Sarmiento: Quitting not tied to TU's 12-0 Maguindanao sweep

Telling the chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the “pressure is too much," and that he is "no Superman," Commissioner Rene Sarmiento on Monday announced his resignation from a task force investigating the alleged poll fraud in Maguindanao that delivered a 12-0 sweep for senatorial candidates of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “He begged off that he be excused from the designation (as) chair (of the) the investigation (team)," Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr told reporters Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), adding that he was told by Sarmiento that “the pressure is too much. I can’t take it anymore," In a separate phone interview, Sarmiento confirmed that he quit his job as head of the task force. He also clarified that the pressure to resign was due to health concerns. “I’m so tired. In fact, I have a fever now," said Sarmiento, Comelec commissioner-in-charge for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He flew back to Manila on Monday after overseeing special elections in Lanao del Sur on Saturday. Sarmiento said he will soon file his resignation as task force head before the Comelec en banc. Sarmiento denied that political pressure to keep him quiet on the alleged Maguindanao poll cheating was a factor in his decision to resign as task force head. “If only I am physically able I could have proceeded to Maguindanao to start the investigation, but I am not Superman to be able to do that," he added. The commissioner is overseeing special elections in Lanao del Sur and the Maguindanao probe at the same time. Abalos also denied that Sarmiento was “eased out" from the probe so that the poll body could cover up anomalies in Maguindanao votes. “Anybody can head this task force. Actually the investigation is not only on the canvassing but (will also look at) pinning those who are responsible for the errors committed," he said. Abalos named poll Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer as Sarmiento’s replacement. - GMANews.TV