Congress orders CIDG to keep Tabayoyong ERs

The House of Representatives committee on justice has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to secure the election returns seized from the San Mateo, Rizal apartment rented by former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) handwriting expert Segundo Tabayoyong last Aug. 16.

In a letter, House justice committee chairman Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong directed PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head Chief Superintendent Ricardo Dapat to keep the election returns safe since these documents could be used in the impeachment proceedings against President Arroyo.

"You are hereby required to ensure the safety and integrity of said documents and materials for submission to the committee when so required," Datumanong said in his letter, dated Aug. 17.

Datumanong sent the letter in connection with the raid jointly carried out by the CIDG and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) last week, during which the agents seized bundles of election returns apparently from last year’s presidential vote as well as various election paraphernalia.

Datumanong noted the opposition congressmen had claimed that among the items allegedly taken during the raid were documents and materials that could serve as evidence in the impeachment case.

"Considering the fact that the House committee on justice is presently conducting the hearing on the impeachment complaint against (the) President... it is alleged by the opposition that the documents have relation to their cause of action," he said.

On the other hand, Minority Leader Francis Escudero turned down the invitation by CIDG-National Capital Region director Senior Superintendent Asher Dolina to send a representative to witness the inventory of the election returns seized from Tabayoyong’s rented room in San Mateo.