Comelec Chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan(File photo courtesy of Comelec) MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is open to accept other service providers besides Smartmatic. Comelec Election and Barangay Affairs Director Teopisto Elnas Jr. told the Senate that as far as interoperability is concerned, the poll body already experienced it during the 1998 ARMM (now BARMM or Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) elections where they served with two different service providers but did not need to coordinate with each other. "In fairness to Smartmatic, they went through the process of bidding. If in case our budget would permit us to the point that we will be leasing new machines, then any provider can come and participate in the bidding," he replied to Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation chair Sen. Imee Marcos who asked if the poll body can change or add service providers for the 2025 midterm elections. Elnas pointed out there w