Comelec exec gets death threats

Security was tightened at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after one of its commissioners also claimed receiving death threats following the killing of the poll body’s legal department head.

Acting Comelec chairman Florentino Tuason said he ordered additional security to the main office after one of the commissioners received death threats.

“What I know is that one of the commissioners here had received a threat. I will not say his name but I know for a fact that one commissioner received a threat a week ago, including his staff,” Tuason said.

According to Tuason, the information about the threat was “relayed” to him but he did not elaborate.

Tuason revealed the threat before reporters in a news conference with Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Romeo Brawner and Nicodemo Ferrer.

When each of them was asked if they received the threats, Tuason and Ferrer claimed they received none while Brawner refused to comment.

The other two commissioners could not comment if they received threats.

Chairman Resurreccion Borra is in Indonesia on an official mission while newly appointed Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon was not around.

Tuason said the Comelec has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to augment security at the main office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros and deploy additional policemen from the Police Security Protection Office (PSPO).

The poll body wants 15 more PSPO to augment the existing 34 policemen at the Comelec main office aside from its 97 security men.

Tuason noted that the threats were made while the police are still investigating the murder of Comelec legal department chief Alioden Dalaig, who was killed last Saturday.

“Because they (police) are not really aware of the precise reason why Attorney Dalaig was shot, it is imperative, according to them (police) to take precautionary measures to secure the safety of all our personnel and officials,” Tuason said.

Manila Police District (MPD) officials investigating the killing of Dalaig, on the other hand, declared they might see an early solution to the case.

This developed after investigators secured video footage from a closed circuit television camera of the Hyatt Hotel showing one of the suspects following Dalaig before he was killed.

The suspect was shown pretending to play one of the slot machines of the casino while watching Dalaig from a distance.

The footage also showed that Dalaig left the casino at 6:38 p.m. and was followed by the same man while talking to someone on his cellular phone.

“Apparently the man was monitoring the movements of Dalaig. He could be providing information to someone outside the hotel,” said Superintendent Nelson Yabut, MPD chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU).

Investigators also found a witness who provided additional information on the identity of the gunman and the motive for the killing.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, however, withheld the identity of the gunman, citing police operations.

“Definitely, we are nearing solution of the case. It’s just a matter of time,” Rosales said.

Investigators led by Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr. went to the Comelec in the effort to inquire about the identity of the man on the video. “Someone might know this man, which can lead us to his whereabouts,” Yanquiling said.  

Investigators learned that a lookout had advised the gunman to approach Dalaig for the kill.

The poll official was crossing the street at the corner of Pedro Gil and M.H. del Pilar streets in Ermita when the gunman approached and shot the victim at close range with a .45 caliber automatic.

Investigators also are focusing on the involvement of certain politicians from Mindanao who may have a grudge against Dalaig following the local elections last May.

Security at the Comelec, on the other hand, has been tightened with the implementation of the “no ID-no entry policy,” including to the media.

“We have banned the entry of vendors to all floors that house Comelec offices because PSPO said there is a danger that people who are unauthorized to gain entry might gain access to Comelec offices,” Tuason said.

He said the Comelec will issue “color-coded” IDs for each personnel limiting access to each floor.

Tuason said Comelec commissioners, senior staff, election officers, provincial election supervisors and regional election directors had been advised to report any threats.

He said those who have received threats could request for security from the Comelec.

As for field personnel, Tuason said local police authorities can provide security for them.

He added the Comelec would maintain the heightened security “as long as we feel that the threat is there.” – with Nestor Etolle