Comelec's Ferrer threatens to file case vs CHR chief

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer yesterday said he is planning to sue Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for using her office to harass him.

This is in relation to the CHR probe on his supposed ill treatment of two whistle-blowers during a meeting last week.

“If you use your office to harass people, that’s violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. She might not know that,” Ferrer said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan over the weekend.

De Lima reportedly said Ferrer’s behavior should not be tolerated.

A violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act does not only involve money, said Ferrer, who used to work in the Sandiganbayan.

“She should not fool me. She is only after media mileage,” he said, adding that De Lima bore a grudge against him.

Last week, Comelec officials invited Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting member Arwin Serrano and former election lawyer Melchor Magdamo, who exposed alleged irregularities in the planned purchase of P700 million worth of ballot secrecy folders from OTC Paper Supply for P380 each. 

However, during the meeting, a shouting match ensued between Serrano and Ferrer who, in rage, supposedly pointed a finger at Serrano and called him a “liar.”

Ferrer also allegedly kicked a chair but he denied this.

Ferrer said he would also pursue his plan to file a libel suit against Serrano and Magdamo and that he might even include De Lima.

Ferrer challenged De Lima to file a case against him.