MANILA, Philippines — No one among the current roster of Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials and commissioners will resign amid the bribery allegations faced by the agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said on Wednesday.
According to Garcia, a resignation would be tantamount to proving that the accusations were true.
READ: Garcia to NBI: Probe bribery raps, ‘it’s a demolition job vs Comelec’
“Impossible po ‘yan, impossible po na may mag-leave at saka mag-courtesy resignation o mag-resign sa mga miyembro ng Komisyon. Ano sila, hilo?” Garcia said in a press conference.
(That’s impossible, it’s impossible that someone among the members of the Commission will leave, or will tender a courtesy resignation. What are they, fools?)
“Parang sinasabi namin na totoo ang mga akusasyon,” he added.
(That’s as if we’re saying the accusations were true.)
Garcia’s remark came after claims surfaced that the Comelec accepted bribes from a South Korean firm, which were transferred to several offshore bank accounts.
READ: Comelec chief urged to clarify, address alleged bribery
While Garcia said that he was alluded to by the claims, he maintained that he did not have any foreign accounts.
The Comelec official has also asked the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate the allegations.