Pimentel hits transfer of Comelec exec

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. assailed yesterday the reported transfer of Commission on Elections-National Capital Region director Ferdinand Rafanan with just a few months before the elections.

Pimentel said that he was informed that Rafanan has been transferred to the Office of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, which he said is equivalent to being placed on floating status.

He said there is no reason to remove Rafanan from his post, particularly now when the Comelec is busy preparing for the May 14 elections.

Considering the reputation of Rafanan as a credible and honest officer of the Comelec, Pimentel aired his suspicion that the move could be part of a sinister plan to manipulate the results of the elections or to resurrect the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.

"Chairman Abalos should put Comelec director Rafanan back to his NCR post. Removing him now will be highly suspicious. It could be a prelude to election cheating to favor administration candidates or to resurrecting the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution," Pimentel said.