Comelec denies spending intel funds vs poll watchdog

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is willing to release information on how it used P30 million in intelligence funds.

Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Comelec did not spend a single centavo to conduct surveillance on the activities of the Automated Elections System (AES) Watch.

“I can state under oath that I’m not spending a single cent of my intelligence fund to any reference to AES Watch or to any individual in the AES Watch,” he said.

He will not waste time or a single peso in intelligence funds just to watch the AES, he added.

Brillantes said the Comelec will abide by the Supreme Court (SC) ruling and submit the necessary report on how it used intelligence funds.

“I can show it to the Court but they (AES Watch) cannot see it,” he said. “I can only show it to the Court since there are still many things indicated there that they (AES Watch) cannot see.”

The Comelec can submit any report required by the SC because they are working within the bounds of their mandate, Brillantes said. 

Last Tuesday, the SC, on petition of  AES, ordered the Comelec to release information on the use of its intelligence fund.   

Last July 3, AES asked the SC to stop the Comelec from conducting surveillance on their members.