Group clears 2 Comelec commissioners

MANILA, Philippines - The Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM) yesterday backtracked and cleared two commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) whom they earlier accused of asking P3 million in exchange for the group’s accreditation as a party-list.

In his testimony during a full commission hearing, ALAM first nominee Jerry Yap said they never intended to malign commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph.

Yap said they were merely relaying the claims of two Comelec employees who allegedly promised to help them ensure approval of their petition for accreditation.

“We did not have the intention to taint the reputation of the Comelec. We just wanted the truth to come out,” he said, adding that the two Comelec personnel could be acting on their own.

ALAM secretary-general Edwin Alcala also took the witness stand and alleged that he met “Eric” and “JR” a few months ago because he wanted to get information about the procedures on party-list accreditation at the poll body.

ALAM’s petition was rejected by the Comelec Second Division composed of Tagle and Yusoph because they lacked track record.

In their motion for reconsideration, the group alleged that JR approached them and asked for P3 million in exchange for a favorable decision.

During the hearing, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes berated ALAM officials for making the claims without filing a formal complaint against the poll personnel.

Brillantes even chided ALAM for coming out only after the Second Division had denied them accreditation.

He, however, assured the group that the Comelec would continue to investigate the matter.