Comelec to decide on probing alleged fraud in 2007 Maguindano polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc will decide next week whether to conduct an investigation on the alleged poll fraud in Maguindanao in 2007, according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez. “Siguro by next week mga Monday or Tuesday baka malaman na natin. Kasi patuloy naman ang pag-uusap ng mga abogado kay [Lintang] Bedol. Kasi ayaw naman natin na madaliin kasi kapag minadali natin baka may ma-miss naman tayo," he said. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said before the poll body can decide on conducting a formal preliminary investigation, they need to review the affidavits of Lintang Bedol and three other witnesses who have come forward. “We have to review the statements," he said. “Titingnan natin lahat yan and then we’ll decide on whether to go into a further investigation on the allegation of election fraud and cheating." Bedol’s affidavit Brillantes said on July 16 that the Comelec will likely investigate Bedol's new claims. But Brillantes added that he will likely inhibit because he was an election lawyer during the 2004 and 2007 elections. Comelec lawyers earlier visited the former Maguindanao election supervisor at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Quezon City, regarding his statements on the alleged fraud. Bedol is serving a six-month jail term the Comelec meted for his failure to produce 2007 election documents he was duty-bound to secure. Getting Garcillano’s cooperation Meanwhile, Jimenez said the poll body still hopes former Comelec commissioner Virgillio Garcillano will cooperate with their investigation, despite his earlier denials of having any knowledge on the alleged irregularities in the 2004 elections. “Hindi naman namin siya pinupunto na siya ang may kasalanan pero siya yung probably one of those in the best position to know kasi nga present naman siya doon and he was very active as a commissioner so he might be able to help," Jimenez said, admitting, however, that they were not expecting anything from Garcillano. Garcillano was implicated in the ‘Hello Garci’ controversy, which involved a taped conversation, allegedly about the rigging of results in the 2004 elections. The male voice in the recording is believed to be that of Garcillano, while the female voice is believed to be that of then-President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Comelec chairman Brillantes on Wednesday had called on Garcillano to help shed light on the alleged anomalies during the 2004 elections, when the polls chief was the elections lawyer for Arroyo’s rival in the presidential race, the late Fernando Poe Jr. — MRT/ELR/VS, GMA News