Election watchdog hits Comelec for finishing Maguindanao canvass
June 28, 2007 by kontradaya
Election watchdog Kontra Daya ambasted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for canvassing the “highly-tainted” votes from the province despite contentions from the opposition and election watchdogs. It also said in a statement that it eagerly awaits the arrest of Lintang Bedol, the head of Maguindanao provincial board of canvassers.
Fr. Joe Dizon, Kontra Daya spokesperson, said, “Why not give to the Philippine National Police (PNP) the arrest warrant on Bedol? This bolsters our suspicion that the arrest order [on Bedol] is just for a show, an attempt to assuage the public’s rage over the massive fraud in Maguindanao. The Comelec is only playing stiff to get back its lost credibility and to favor Team Unity’s Miguel Zubiri in a rather ‘discreet’ manner. Well, the Comelec cannot fool us.”
Dizon said, “The Comelec’s insistence in canvassing votes from Maguindanao is contrary to its strong warning against Bedol. Why did it give credit to election documents authenticated by Bedol’s men? Why did they count votes that are obviously manufactured by Bedol?”
Dizon asserted that it is Chairman Benjamin Abalos’ complicity that stiffened Bedol’s spine. “Bedol is acting like a spoiled brat because Abalos refused to relieve him after ‘Hello Garci’ scandal broke out.”
Dizon said that other conspirators within the Comelec must be held liable, including Abalos, Rey Sumalipao, Renault Macarambon, Jubiel Surmieda. “They must be dismissed, too.”
Sumalipao, Macarambon and Surmieda are election officials assigned in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where irregularities took place. Like Bedol, the three are closely associated with former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
Dizon criticized the Comelec for running ahead and possibly preempting the Supreme Court’s decision as it finished the canvassing of votes before the SC’s oral arguments. “How then could the SC decide on Pimentel’s petition for temporary restraining order if the Comelec special PBoC already finished canvassing?”
Dizon warned the Comelec against officially proclaiming Zubiri as the 12th winner in the senatorial race before the decision of the high court comes out. “The Comelec says the National Board of Canvassers’ (NBC) counting is only ministerial. If they go on with the proclamation, the Maguindanao case could again blow the lid on the disgusting machinations ang maneuverings of the administration-controlled Comelec. It could also reopen the can of worms, i.e. the ‘Garci tapes’ controversy.”
Dizon said, “The ensuing political fall-out will haunt not only Abalos, Comelec and Zubiri but the Arroyo government as well. Our people will see to it that this vulgar cheating will be politically costly for the Arroyo government.” #
