Losing presidential bet might be behind 'koala bear' — Comelec

The spokesperson for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday that based on initial reports reaching the poll body, the person behind the surfacing of "Robin," the masked whistleblower who is referred to as "koala bear" in congressional hearings, could be a losing presidential candidate. "In fact, we already know who is behind (the whistleblower). We suspect that it is a losing presidential candidate," Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters in an interview. Jimenez, however, refused to divulge who the presidential bet he was referring to. Senator Benigno Aquino III (Liberal Party) is the leading presidential candidate based on partial and unofficial tallies. The other candidates are former President Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Sen. Manny Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party), Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), independent candidates Senator Jamby Madrigal and Nicanor Perlas, and JC delos Reyes (Ang Kapatiran Party). Jimenez issued the statement after the masked whistleblower alleged that there was massive rigging of the May automated polls. Noting that they are citing initial reports, he said that they came up with the theory that a losing presidential candidate was behind "Robin" based on reports from "inter-agency cooperation" from their partners in the elections like the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Justice. "The Comelec should go soft on that assertion (but) it looks that way. We've been asking questions from everyone... we trust our sources," he said. Election offense But Jimenez said that once they confirm that the reports are true, the presidential candidate will face sanctions. "If we find out that it's for real... we can get him for undermining the credibility of the elections, that is an election offense." An election offense is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. On the other hand, Jimenez said they have also "determined" that Robin is not an employee of the poll body. "He does not know procedures. He does not understand how the Comelec works. He does not understand how the canavssing setup works... he is not likely a Comelec employee," he said. He also said that "Robin" was most probably paid to make the supposed revelation. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV