Comelec urged to investigate electoral fraud

FOLLOWING the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for a continued search for the truth, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate allegations of massive fraud in the May 2004 elections.

PPCRV, a nonpartisan electoral watchdog, said the Comelec should be true to its word in finding out whether or not former commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and other officials mentioned in the "Hello, Garci?" tapes were guilty of violating election laws. The Comelec issued en banc resolution no. 7509 on June 28, calling for an investigation on the controversy.

Stressing that "our political turmoil needs closure," PPCRV said Filipinos should overcome political conveniences and affiliations in order to arrive at a resolution on the matter. The PPCRV further said "it is in the best interest of any government official to clarify any allegation" in order to regain the public’s trust.

The PPCRV added the Comelec’s proceedings should be done "in light of full public transparency by inviting its citizen’s arm and other civil society groups to join its Legal Department in these investigations. The presentation of facts, evidences and findings must be done in full public scrutiny, and with a definite time frame."

In its Election Monitoring Report for the 2004 National and Local Elections, one of the PPCRV’s recommendations was for the electoral body to conduct a thorough evaluation of the efficiency, trustworthiness, and effectiveness of all Comelec officials and personnel.

The PPCRV is a lay movement advocating for electoral reform. It was once headed by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Haydee Yorac who passed away last Tuesday.

Read the PPCRV statement here.