Comelec studying where to detain Bedol

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now studying where to detain former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol. On Tuesday, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they may make arrangements with the concerned agency as the poll body does not have its own detention facility. "Wala kaming detention facility rito. Pwede sa NBI, pwede sa Crame (We do not have our own detention facility. We are considering having him detained at the National Bureau of Investigation or Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame)," Brillantes, who arrived at the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila before 7 a.m., said in an interview aired on dzBB radio. However, he also voiced concerns about detaining Bedol at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan in Taguig City, where members of the Ampatuan clan are detained. The Ampatuan clan members detained at Camp Bagong Diwa had been linked to the November 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. Tight security In the meantime, security was tightened at the Comelec headquarters for Bedol, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. A dzBB update said a part of Brillantes' office was turned into a makeshift holding area for Bedol to stay, at least for Tuesday, adding that Brillantes was concerned about Bedol's "security" at Camp Bagong Diwa. Brillantes said they plan to quiz Bedol over his pronouncements, including alleged poll fraud in 2004 and 2007, and see if he will put them in writing. "Tatanungin namin siya kung ano sinabi niya sa media (We will ask him what he said to the media) and if he's willing to put it down in writing and if he has available documents to prove it; and then determine if there is a basis for a formal investigation or simply fact-finding," he said. He also said they will take note of who Bedol will implicate, and see if "he is willing to talk to media." Bedol is expected to be presented to the Comelec early Tuesday. He was reportedly in government custody as of Monday. Closure on 'Garci' scandal Meanwhile, a Church-based poll watchdog group threw its support behind moves to give closure to the "Hello Garci" scandal involving alleged fraud in the 2004 elections. But the Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting said the cases against one of the "witnesses," former elections supervisor Lintang Bedol, should not be overlooked. "Bedol should be charged and, once proven guilty, penalized. But (the Commission on Elections) and the government should not stop with Bedol," PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. De Villa said the issue cannot be put to rest until all those involved are unmasked and brought to justice, the same article said. "They should run after all those who had a hand in the mega cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections," she said. She added putting closure to such cases is a crucial step to having credible and peaceful elections. Earlier, suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Bedol disclosed there was fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections. The PPCRV noted Bedol now faces charges filed by the Commission on Elections, including indirect contempt, and violating the Omnibus Election Code, the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Bedol also has a pending arrest warrant issued by the Comelec on Oct. 22, 2007. — RSJ, GMA News