Comelec chair to file complaint vs Marcoleta over offshore bank claims

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia holds a press conference to address allegations that he owns offshore bank accounts at the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Comelec commissioners also joined Garcia in the press briefing. (Photo courtesy of Office of the Chairman/Comelec)

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday that he is eyeing to file an ethics complaint against Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta who claimed that the poll chief owned offshore bank accounts.

“Yes, there is no problem because in the end there needs to be a remedy in such events, especially fabrication and falsification of documents,” Garcia said in Filipino when asked if he would file an ethics complaint against Marcoleta over the offshore bank accounts allegations.

“In our country, if you steal an apple, you will be labeled a thief. We can’t say it’s okay if a man in power falsifies. The law should be equal for both. If you falsify, whatever your status in life is, you falsify,” he added.

READ: Comelec’s Garcia traces offshore bank transactions to Smartmatic

Marcoleta previously claimed that Garcia owned offshore bank accounts and even presented to the media documents showing supposed bank transfers worth $100 to Garcia’s alleged two offshore bank accounts. Marcoleta said they tapped the help of volunteers in New York, USA to make the bank deposits.

But Garcia debunked Marcoleta’s claim, saying the foreign banks where the $100 was transferred were recently opened accounts. According to the Comelec chair, bank transactions will push through even with wrong names for as long as the account numbers are correct.

Marcoleta first reported that at least P1 billion were transferred from different banks to 49 offshore bank accounts allegedly owned by a Comelec official. While Marcoleta did not reveal who the said official was, Garcia said that the lawmaker was referring to him.

READ: Marcoleta tags Comelec chief Garcia in Caymans offshore bank controversy

In a press conference, Garcia presented documents to debunk claims that he owned 49 offshore bank accounts. He also showed documents of his travel history, stating that he had a few trips abroad due to his work.

Furthermore, the Comelec chief also said that he had the exact copy of the allegations thrown at him, which he called the “white paper,” containing claims of his ownership of offshore bank accounts and properties abroad.

“It was seamlessly done, my fellow citizens. What I got and read in the press conference were offshore accounts. Who among us in this headquarters could verify the offshore accounts if we do not really own them?” Garcia said.

“They did this offshore, even the properties — and out of the country so there will be no verification,” he added.

Garcia said he would go after those behind the creation of fake documents.

‘I am determined because the accusations are not a joke… We need to see where this leads because this is a threat to our democracy,” he said.