Press Release
June 28, 2007

COMELEC MUST UNDO BEDOLS FRAUDULENT ACTS

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Nene' Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today dared the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to rectify the wrongdoing committed by provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol - the manipulation of the results of the senatorial election in Maguindanao - instead of merely ordering his arrest and prosecution.

Pimentel said that while the Comelecs order for Bedols arrest appears laudable, it would amount to a superficial gesture if nothing is done to undo the mess created by the poll officials irresponsible and unlawful acts.

Suing Bedol will lead Comelec only to half-truths. Half-truths are lies in disguise. The other half is for the Comelec to undo what Bedol has done: making a mockery of the Maguindanao Certificates of Canvass, he said.

The order for Bedols arrest was issued by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, head of Comelec Task Force Maguindanao, for repeatedly snubbing its summons to explain how the certificates of canvass from 22 municipalities of the province were stolen from his office.

Pimentel said the Comelec itself is disregarding election laws and tolerating irregularities by allowing the canvassing of the municipal COCs despite palpable signs that they have been fabricated to reflect a 12-0 victory for Team Unity senatorial candidates in Maguindanao.

He said the arrest order on Bedol may turn out to be a hollow move - intended to create the impression Comelec is running after rogues in the poll body. However, the truth is the Comelec under Chairman Benjamin Abalos is indecisive in preventing massive electoral fraud in Maguindanao.

News Latest News Feed