AMID the controversy hounding the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding its automated election system (AES) contract with South Korean firm, Miru Systems, chairman George Garcia yesterday rejected calls for him or any other official of the poll body to either resign or take a leave of absence.
Speaking at a press conference attended by the seven members of the Comelec en banc, Garcia brushed aside the calls and pointed at how these were made either by those making unverified allegations against the poll body or unknown netizens who are part of a “troll farm.”
“The point being, with social media, you have no chances of winning. They don’t even declare their real names, especially those part of troll farms. With troll farms, you would think many are affected by an issue when in truth they are just fake entities,” said Garcia.
“Thus, it would be impossible for any member of the Commission to go on leave or offer their courtesy resignation. Ano sila, hilo? (Who they think they are?) Would we stoop down to that level of calling for resignation or going on leave? Nek nek nila (We won’t),” he said.
Garcia was responding to posts on social media platforms calling for his resignation in relation to the alleged bribery from Miru Systems.
The resignation calls come after SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and former Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice made separate unverified claims that a Comelec official owns several bank accounts, both local and abroad, which have been recipients of deposits from South Korea.
The Landbank of the Philippines, Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Union Bank have all issued certifications that the alleged bank accounts of Garcia in their respective branches are “non-existent.”
In a separate statement, Miru also condemned the allegations of bribery involving their company and the Comelec official.
“We strongly condemn the bribery allegation made against Miru Systems. This is a serious allegation that should not have been made public without any evidence,” said Miru.
“We have had nothing but a professional relationship with everyone in the Comelec, including the highly respectable chairman George Garcia,” added the South Korean firm.
‘DOWN TO THE GUTTER’
Speaking at the press conference, Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting challenged their critics to file charges against the poll officials.
This, she said, is the legal and proper way to handle matters instead of resorting to trial by publicity and through social media.
“I address the accusers of our beloved chairman. You are lawyers. Please uphold the rule of law. Do not go down to the gutter. Do not be a ‘marites,’” said Inting, referring to the popular local slang for rumormongers.
“Do not crucify us in the court of public opinion. Crucify us in the courts of law because we will be ready to face you with our evidence,” added the most senior member of the Comelec en banc.
Commissioners Ernesto Maceda and Aimee Ferolino similarly slammed their critics.
“They are members of Congress, one an incumbent and one a past. They should know the effects of presenting unverified claims. Accordingly, if they can verify it, I am sure they will know how to proceed,” said Maceda.
“We shouldn’t believe accusations that don’t have basis. That’s wrong. Whoever makes the allegations should be the one presenting the (verified) evidence,” said Ferolino.
Also present in the press conference were Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, Nelson Celis, and Rey Bulay.
The event also saw the Comelec – Employees Union, League of Election Officers of the Nation, Provincial Election Supervisors Association of the Philippines, and Comelec Regional Election Directors Organization issuing their respective statements of support to the Comelec leadership.
“We condemn those who spread falsehoods to weaken our institutions and erode public trust to serve the interests of a few,” said the Comelec in a Statement of Solidarity.
CHARGES VS CRITICS
The Commission also stressed that it fully intends to hold accountable those making unverified claims without the benefit of swearing into their allegations.
“We will ensure that those responsible for peddling these baseless lies are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said the Comelec.
According to Garcia, he is seriously considering filing falsification charges against those behind the spurious claims.
Foremost of which, he said, is Erice, who forwarded to him last Monday the “Bahamas files,” which contains the supposed detailed bank accounts of the Comelec official who received deposits from South Korea.
Erice the Bahamas files was allegedly sent to him by an anonymous sender.
“The one who gave us the documents after claiming that he received the parcel is the one I’m referring to,” said Garcia without mentioning the name of Erice.
According to Inting, he believes that there is a strong case against their critics owing to the presence of the bank certifications.
“In my experience as a judge since 1984, if these documents are brought to court, it will be dismissed. Why? It is muddled by false accounts… this puts a cloud of doubt on the integrity of the accusers,” said Inting.
Bulay, for his part, said he agrees that Garcia has all the capabilities to file a case against his accusers.
“There is a strong case. I can tell because I was a prosecutor. He is just concerned that the Comelec may get distracted and be delayed (in preparing for the May 2025 elections),” said Bulay.
2025 ELECTIONS
According to Maceda, the Comelec’s preparations for the May 2025 national and local polls is slowly being hampered by the controversy.
He noted how there will also be the Bangsamoro parliamentary polls and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled next year and that the Comelec will need all the focus needed to prepare.
“The year 2025 is a super election year. So you have the national elections, local elections, Bangsamoro parliamentary elections and then, on December, we have the BSKE,” said Maceda.
“We want to go back to our preparations as the work piles up if we can’t handle them because of this. The soonest this thing is resolved, the happier we are going to be,” he added.
Miru agreed with Maceda’s statement, saying the controversy is an unnecessary issue that needs to be attended to.
“This baseless and careless accusation not only maligns our reputation, it also detracts us from all the work that needs to be done with the Commission on Elections for the 2025 National and Local Elections,” said Miru.
In agreeing with such observations, Garcia said they will now impose a “gag order” on themselves with regards the controversy.
“We will order ourselves to no longer discuss any matter regarding the case pending in the Supreme Court,” he said.
He said this is also their way to show their respect to the sub judice principle of the High Tribunal.
“The sub judice principle is applicable not only to the parties to the case but to everyone out of respect with the Supreme Court,” said Garcia.
