New probe set on secrecy folders

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman will probe the allegedly anomalous ballot secrecy folder procurement project upon the request of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the investigation would be parallel to the one being conducted by a three-member panel headed by Comelec Law Department director Ferdinand Rafanan.

“It’s really up to the Ombudsman how to conduct the investigation,” he said. “It’s the incident, not the people.”

Weeks before the May 10 polls, the Comelec was forced to cancel a contract to purchase P700-million worth of ballot secrecy folders after finding that it was overpriced at P380 each. 

Larrazabal said Comelec Chairman Jose Melo deemed it necessary to tap an independent agency to look into the deal.

“I have not seen any report,” he said. “We are still waiting for that.”

The poll body had given Rafanan’s team until April 20 to come up with a report but the deadline was extended to April 30.

The irregular deal was uncovered when Dr. Arwin Serrano, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) member and representative to the Comelec’s Bids and Awards Committee, and Comelec lawyer Melchor Magdamo called Rafanan’s attention to the overpricing.

De Villa wants to know if Ferrer berated Serrano

PPCRV chair Tita de Villa said she will meet with Serrano to determine if Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer had indeed berated him.

“We want to hear it from him,” she said. “We want to know what happened.”

De Villa said the PPCRV would not take any action until she gets to talk with Serrano.

As of now, she would consider the news reports as mere “hearsay,” she added.

De Villa said it would not be right if Ferrer had shouted at Serrano, pointed a finger at him and kicked a chair during a meeting, as reported in media.

“Consider the dignity of the person and, in a way, trample on the rights of someone who was just doing his job,” she said.

“We want to hear it from (Serrano) and know what provoked Commissioner Ferrer to anger. We want to know the whole picture.”   Evelyn Macairan