Lintang Bedol held at Camp Crame

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU. Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) official Lintang Bedol glances at Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes as he answers questions during a press conference Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Comelec office. Bedol, who was allegedly linked to massive election fraud during the 2004 presidential election, surrendered to the authorities on Tuesday. AP

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections has ordered former Maguindanao provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame while the poll body examined the affidavit he submitted detailing alleged cheating in the 2004 and 2007 national elections.

Bedol arrived at Camp Crame aboard a white Toyota Innova shortly after 12 noon Tuesday after he appeared at the Comelec at around 9:00 a.m. He was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Members of the media were not given a chance to interview Bedol as the gates of the custodial center were immediately closed after his vehicle arrived.

Bedol’s lawyer, Roberto Ultado Jr. said his client was detained by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for a week before he was turned over to the Comelec. He also said that DILG gave security to Bedol.

Meanwhile, Brillantes declined to comment on the contents of Bedol’s affidavit but said it detailed “mostly 2007” election events.

He said that until the affidavit was studied thoroughly, the Comelec was foregoing for the meantime a decision to create an investigating committee to investigate Bedol’s allegations.

Brillantes said Bedol also submitted three affidavits from three municipal election officers from Maguindanao. Bedol did not submit any supporting document to back his claims.

“We will have to go to him daily or every other day to question him further on the contents of his affidavit. Probably by Tuesday next week we can have a decision if we’ll set up a committee,” Brillantes said.

He said the Department of Justice may join the Comelec investigation or set up its separate panel.

Bedol disappeared after he was summoned by the Comelec to testify on alleged irregularities in the 2007 senatorial elections. He was subsequently cited for contempt and sentenced in absentia to six months imprisonment.

Bedol and former Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last week accused former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of engineering vote-shaving and vote-padding operations in the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections. With Danica Hermogenes and Frances Mangosing, INQUIRER.net