Lawyer in folder scam is new Comelec legal chief

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Commission on Elections law department has been replaced with a member of the Comelec bids and awards committee (BAC) who was suspended for approving a P690-million ballot secrecy folder contract last year, according to a report by ABS-CBN.

Lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan said he was replaced by lawyer Allen Francis Abaya, who is one of six Comelec officers who were suspended for six months for approving the alleged overpriced contract for folders that were supposed to be used in the May 10, 2010 elections.

Aside from Abaya, the other suspended officers were Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino, BAC chairwoman Maria Lea Alarkon and BAC members Maria Norina Casingal, Atty. Martin Niedo and Antonio Santella.

The Comelec said Rafanan was reassigned to the Comelec-Department of Justice panel that will investigate poll fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections. However, Rafanan said he does not need to be removed from the law department while working with the DOJ-Comelec panel.

Lawyer Melchor Magdamo, the whistleblower in the ballot secrecy folder deal, said the Comelec decision to appoint Abaya as law department chief is a bad sign. He said Comelec’s move could be seen as a reward for those involved in the scam. – With Sheila Crisostomo