Drilon challenges the Comelec

SENATE President Franklin Drilon is calling on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make good its promise to purge its regional office in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of election officers who were involved in poll irregularities.

In a letter to Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Drilon expressed alarm over reports that the suspension of ARMM regional director Renato Magbutay (wrongly named as Mabugay in the letter), allegedly implicated in the wiretapped phone conversations, has not taken effect. Drilon quoted Magbutay himself as having said that Abalos’s order was issued “for media purposes” only.

Magbutay was identified by PCIJ sources as the “Boy” in the phone conversations with Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Sources described him as a “Garcillano protégé” who took over the ARMM Comelec office four days before the May 10, 2004 elections.

Drilon issued the call in light of the ARMM elections scheduled on August 8.

The Senate president also sought the immediate relief of military and police commanders in the ARMM perceived to be siding with certain candidates. 

The full text of Drilon’s June 29 letter:

Dear Chairman Abalos:

This is to express my alarm over reports indicating that your recent order to suspend ARMM Comelec officials who were implicated in the controversial wiretapped phone conversations never took effect and was allegedly made “for media’s consumption only.”

Reports have it that no less than ARMM Comelec Regional Director Renato Mabugay, who is supposed to be suspended per your order, recently called a meeting of Comelec personnel and announced that the pronouncement you made was for media purposes only.

Mabugay was quoted as saying that it was “business as usual for him and his operators,” an announcement pregnant with insinuations that the August 8 ARMM polls will be rigged in favor of moneyed candidates.

These reports, if true, a re certainly disturbing, given the recent political development resulting from the wiretapped phone conversation controversy allegedly involving a Comelec commissioner and the President herself.

Certainly, these reports do not sit well with the President’s promise to institute reforms in governance, specifically in the need to show the people that the Comelec can preside over elections with outmost impartiality and fairness.

It is imperative that Comelec immediately purge its ranks in the ARMM of officials and personnel tainted with charges of poll fraud and corruption. Your performance in the ARMM elections will serve as a litmus test on whether the Comelec can stand up to the required standards of strict impartiality and fairness required by our people.

Likewise, I bring to your attention the call of Datu Ibrahim “Toto” Paglas III, the Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate for ARMM and his running mate Hatta Dimaporo, for you to overhaul your office in the ARMM and relieve Comelec personnel who are relatives of politicians or candidates in the elections.

Aside from discredited Comelec personnel, I also strongly recommend the immediate relief of military and police commanders in the ARMM who have shown partiality towards certain candidates.

These officers are Army Brig. Gen. Agustin Dimaala, Commanding General of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, Col. Jerry Jalandoni, Commanding officer of the Army’s 603rd Brigade, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maguindanao provincial director, Senior Superintendent Mediro Mambatao, and Lanao del Sur PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Hamerodin Hamdag.

I ask that they be replaced by fresh and impartial officers who can ensure that the Aug. 8 elections will be credible, orderly, peaceful, and honest.

ARMM residents are, in fact, clamoring for the deployment of the Philippine Marines in critical areas. In areas where security problems persist, I propose that the canvassing of votes should be done inside military camps where ballot protection by all candidates and their supporters can be guaranteed.

Needless to say, it is expected that the ARMM will be placed under Comelec control during the election process.

As I have told President Arroyo last Monday, her administration must implement concrete reforms, particularly in the Comelec, if government must win back the confidence of the people.

I am confident that you will take immediate action on these matters.

Very truly yours,

Franklin M. Drilon

Senate President