Nene to Melo: Ground Garci men
SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday urged Comelec chairman Jose Melo to make good on his pledge to ground field election officials who were implicated in rigging the results of the 2004 and 2007 elections.
Pimentel said the Comelec should pay particular attention to poll officials who allegedly conspired with former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano in vote-padding and -shaving operations in the 2004 presidential elections.
"As long as known associates of Garcillano are occupying sensitive posts in the Comelec, there will be apprehensions over attempts by sinister forces to manipulate and subvert the electoral process," he said.
Pimentel lamented that that the so-called Garci boys were promoted, instead of being dismissed and criminally prosecuted.
Pimentel said the Comelec should explain why Rey Sumalipao has stayed on as regional director of Comelec-ARMM despite ample evidence of his role as Garci’s accomplice in cheating operations in Mindanao in 2004. He said Sumalipao, having evaded sanctions for his wrongdoing, was promoted from provincial election supervisor in Lanao del Sur to the top position in the Comelec regional office in the autonomous region.
"If only to put across the message that it is taking serious steps to clean its house, the Comelec should fire or reassign Mr. Sumalipao to a role where he can do no damage to the electoral process," Pimentel said.
Based on media reports, other Garci boys who were promoted were:
- Lawyer Renato A. Magbutay, assistant regional director in Western Mindanao in 2004 and promoted regional director of Comelec in Northern Mindanao. It was Magbutay who allegedly suggested to Garcillano that family members of a missing poll officer in Basilan carrying certificates of canvass be kidnapped to force her to surface.
- Lawyer Francisco Pobe, election officer in Agusan del Sur who was promoted assistant regional director in the Caraga region. Pobe identified himself in the Hello Garci tapes as "Danny" while informing Garcillano about the vote for administration senatorial candidates.
Lawyer Renault Macarambon who was mentioned by Garcillano as his point an. He was promoted chief of Comelec barangay affairs at the main office from vice chairman of the Lanao del Sur provincial board of canvassers. – JP Lopez