Poll official denies helping rig 2004 elections

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Commission on Elections denied taking part in the alleged irregularities during the 2004 polls.

Testifying Tuesday before a Senate investigation into the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections, Comelec regional director Rey Sumalipao said, ““In so far as I’m concerned, I did not cheat your honor.”

Sumalipao made the statement in response to Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s question as to whether the poll official could “swear to the Holy Koran that there was no cheating in 2004”.

But Sumalipao said that despite the “outpouring of witnesses like Attorney [Lintang] Bedol”, he couldn’t speak for the others, citing Islam laws, but was “inclined to believe that there were irregularities”. Bedol is former election supervisor in Maguindanao.

“In so far as I’m concerned, I did not cheat your honor,” stressed Sumalipao, who was tagged in the so-called “Hello Garci tape” scandal involving an alleged wiretapped conversation between then incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and resigned elections chairman Virgilio Garcillano.

“Can you also swear to the Holy Koran that there was no cheating in 2004?” asked Senate Jose “Jinggo” Estrada during the joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee and committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

“In so far as I’m concerned, I did not cheat your honor. But I cant for a lot of people because under the laws of Islam, I cant answer for and behalf of other people,” Sumalipao said.

“In fact with the pouring in of witnesses, we have Atty. (Lintang) Bedol, hndi ko masasabi. Actually, I’m a more inclined to believe that there were irregularities but I’m stating your honor, I did not commit any,” he further said.