Comelec mulls probe of Dalaig’s case

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento may propose an internal investigation to be conducted by the poll body to determine if corruption has something to do with the murder of legal chief Alioden Dalaig.

“That can be considered. That angle must be looked into if we want to ferret out the truth.  It must be explored,” said Sarmiento when asked about the insinuation of relieved Manila police homicide head Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr. that corruption could be a factor that led to the  killing of Dalaig.

Sarmiento said the name and reputation of the Comelec are also at stake “if indeed” Dalaig was involved in some corrupt activities.

Yanquiling and investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Benito Cabatbat were relieved from their posts after the policemen allegedly tried to switch Dalaig’s gold bracelet with a fake one.

But Yanquiling denied the allegation and claimed that the Comelec is not interested in catching Dalaig’s killer because there are talks that corruption is involved in the killing and it might rebound on the poll body.

Sarmiento said Yanquiling’s pronouncement is “worth looking into” and he might recommend to the Comelec that an internal investigation be done to check on this.      — Sheila Crisostomo