Comelec dared to clean up its ranks amid Bedol issue

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday dared Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief Jose Melo to clean up the poll body’s ranks following the reported departure to the US of an election officer linked to irregularities. In her report over radio dzBB, Nimfa Ravelo quoted Pangilinan as saying that if Melo is sincere in ensuring Comelec’s credibility, he should clean up its ranks to prevent another incident of supposed election fraud. Pangilinan made the statement following reports that former Maguindanao poll supervisor Lintang Bedol has already left the country. In 2007, the opposition accused Bedol of manipulating the provincial poll results in favor of administration bets. The Comelec has subsequently ordered his arrest after he refused to cooperate in the investigations on the alleged election fraud. During a Commission on Appointments hearing Wednesday morning, Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said they received information that Bedol is in the United States. Pangilinan had earlier said that should the Comelec fail to get Bedol, its credibility for the 2010 national elections would be put in doubt. "My fear is that come 2010 the trust and confidence of the people will not be fully restored with respect to Comelec. We may have a very difficult time ensuring credible elections. People will continue to doubt the capacity of the Comelec to do its job," he said. For his part, Melo said that a law has to be passed before he could revamp Comelec’s leadership. “If he [Pangilinan] wants me to clean up our ranks, he should give me a reorganization bill," Melo said in an interview with GMANews.TV. Melo also stressed that the Comelec was not lacking in effort in sanctioning Bedol. “Hindi naman tama yung sabihin na walang ginagawa [It’s not right to say that we didn’t do anything]. He [Bedol] was ordered to be put in prison. We filed a criminal case [in violation] of the anti-graft law at the Ombudsman. But when the order of arrest was to be served ay bigla namang siyang nagtago [he suddenly went into hiding]," Melo said. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV