2 Comelec employees suspended over bribery accusation

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended for 60 days two employees who were allegedly demanding bribe from disqualified party-list group Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM).

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the suspension was slapped on bailiff Enrique de Jesus and clerk Rogelio Raneses pending formal investigation by the agency’s law department.

Brillantes said that based on the recommendation of the fact-finding committee formed by the poll body’s personnel department, charges of grave misconduct would be filed against the two employees.

“And through the formal investigation, we will determine if they are liable for criminal offenses like graft,” he added.

After being disqualified by the Comelec Second Division, ALAM members accused De Jesus and Raneses of demanding P3 million from the group in exchange for Comelec accreditation.

ALAM nominees Jerry Yap, Berteni Causing, Benny Antiporda, Analiza dela Camara-Paz, and Joey Venancio initially implicated Comelec Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Armando Velasco of the Second Division.

But during a hearing at the Comelec, Yap and ALAM secretary-general Edwin Alcala retracted their accusation and apologized to Tagle and Velasco.

The ALAM officials claimed that they communicated only with De Jesus and Raneses.

Brillantes said that Tagle and Velasco are no longer included in the case since ALAM had already exonerated them.