BY GERARD NAVAL

AFTER being dared to put closure to the controversial "Hello Garci" scandal, newly named Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo and other poll commissioners yesterday said they were unsure on what they could do with the three-year-old scandal.

"I am not yet sure on how we can handle that case dahil hindi pa tayo nakakaupo. For now, no comment na muna siguro tayo," he said.

The former Supreme Court justice has said he will not assume his new post until he is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. He was named to the post only last Saturday.

But Melo said he is not closing the doors on the Garci issue.

"Tingnan din natin yung status ng kaso… is it already closed or still ongoing at hanging lang. Kung kailangan ulit tingnan ang kaso, why not? Pero yun na nga, hindi pa natin alam sa ngayon," he said.

The House in 2005 conducted investigations into the allegations that the administration cheated in the 2004 elections to ensure President Arroyo’s victory, as shown by the "Hello Garci" wiretapped recordings of conversations between Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, particularly about a lead of one million votes.

The case was thrown out on the ground that the wiretaps were illegally obtained, and therefore could not be used as evidence.

Last year, the Senate reopened the case.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay on Monday asked Melo to look into the "Hello Garci" controversy as they said putting a closure to the scandal would help restore the Comelec’s credibility.

Commissioner Romeo Brawner said they are unsure of the fate of the "Hello Garci" case under Melo’s leadership.

"We will just cross the bridge when we get there. The problem should be given to incoming Chairman Melo. He might not have a program on it. We don’t know yet. We will leave it up to him," said Brawner, who is set to temporarily assume the chairmanship after acting Chairman Resurreccion Borra retires on February 2.

Borra said the commission has already done its part in terms of handling the Garci case when the Comelec’s law department conducted its own investigation.

"The law department even violated due process when it conducted an investigation even with the absence of a complaint. We would have wanted to put a closure on this," Borra said in a press briefing.

Former Chairman Benjamin Abalos said the case has failed to produce anything despite being repeatedly investigated by Congress.

"Two years na ini-imbestigahan ito ng Kongreso pero wala namang pinupuntahan. Why can’t we just all move forward? You tell me… is it still worth it?" Abalos said in a phone interview.

Borra and Abalos agreed that unless new evidence is available, the case should just be relegated to of history.

"Those who have evidence and are interested in the case should file a case before us. They should talk less and do more," Borra said.

"Siguro kung may bagong ebidensiya na ma-offer… baka sakali. Pero kung wala, huwag na lang siguro," said Abalos who was chairman when the controversy broke out in June 2005 with the Palace’s disclosure of the existence of the recordings.