Comelec eyes security for 3 new poll fraud witnesses

The Commission on Elections is studying security arrangements for three new witnesses who corroborated the claims of former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol regarding cheating in the 2007 elections. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Thursday said he will also send Comelec lawyers to talk to the three witnesses to have them "reaffirm" their statements so they can be used in the commission's probe into the alleged poll fraud. "We have to worry about their security. Unlike Bedol who is locked away at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, we have to secure these three now that they have come out with their statements and their names have been made public," he said in an interview on dzRH radio. He hinted the Comelec may make arrangements with the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government for the security of the three. But he said the Comelec will let the three choose which agency will secure them. "Sensitive ang kanilang statements. It corroborates portions of Bedol's testimony sa kanilang affidavit," he said. In the meantime, Brillantes said he would send Comelec lawyers to meet with the three and ask them to "reiterate" their statements so they can be used in the Comelec probe. He said the three will also be asked if they have anything else to add to their statements. "Of course we will ask them if they have anything to add to what they already said in their statements," he said. In separate affidavits executed July 18, acting Shariff Saydona Mustapha election officer Saliao Amba, former Sultan sa Barongis acting election officer Magsaysay Mohamad, and computer voters' list technician Salonga Edzela said they were afraid of what would happen to them had they spoken out about the irregularities they witnessed during the 2007 polls in Maguindanao. — LBG, GMA News