Comelec recommends charges vs execs in ballot folder deal

A Commission on Elections (Comelec) panel tasked to investigate a botched P690-million ballot secrecy folder contract has recommended the filing of charges against individuals involved in the controversy. However, the Comelec wants the Office of the Ombudsman to be the agency do it. The panel's report showed that "undue injury" was inflicted on the government after the accused recommended the purchase of 25-inch ballot secrecy folders at P380 each, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said without identifying the involved personalities. "We cannot mention these names because it might turn out they are innocent. So in fairness to them, we have decided not to name the persons," he said. Although Sarmiento refused to elaborate on the matter, the panel’s report has been forwarded to the Ombudsman, the investigating body mandated by law to look into offenses and misdemeanors committed by public officers. "We've decided that the Comelec en banc will not act on this... we might convey a wrong perception that we are biased or partial... the Ombudsman has the final say whether or not to act," he said. Persons mentioned in the report may have committed obstruction of justice or the violated Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and other provisions of the law, Sarmiento said. The Comelec will also give a copy of the report to the persons involved, Sarmiento said. He was quick to note that no commissioners were tagged in the controversy. Earlier, the panel's head Comelec law department chief Ferdinand Rafanan said some poll body officials need to do some explaining, including Executive Director Jose Tolentino who supposedly recommended supplier One Time Carbon (OTC) Paper Supply for the award. However, both Tolentino and Comelec Bids and Awards Committee chair Lea Alarkon said they followed the procurement process in choosing OTC. Sarmiento said that have yet to talk about suspending any of the Comelec personnel tagged in the controversy. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV