Malacañang said on Tuesday it trusts in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to thoroughly review the poll automation contract with Smartmatic-TIM Corp. before making a full payment.

Following the technical glitches in the poll machines last month, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Rogelio Peyuan said they trust the poll body to take legal measures to ensure the Venezuelan-firm complied with conditions of the contract.

Smartmatic-TIM Corp., the winning bidder of the poll automation deal, has drawn flak for its dismal performance in the recent elections which was marred by concerns on the reliability and accuracy of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS).

“Palace will maintain its trust and confidence with Comelec who is expected by the public to do every legal steps in seeing to it that the provisions of the Contract are complied by Smartmatic before final payments are made,” Peyuan said.

Peyuan added that it is up to the next leadership if it plans to use the same automated process for the upcoming local elections.

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are scheduled this October while elections will be held in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao next year. The midterm elections for congressional and local officials is scheduled on 2013.

The poll body earlier announced plans to review the poll automation contract with Smartmatic before paying the balance of the contract. Reports said the firm has already been paid 80 to 90 percent of the contract price.