‘Infighting can affect Comelec’s credibility’

Senate Minority Leader Renato Cayetano expressed concern yesterday over the public infighting at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), warning that this could affect the credibility of the poll body.

"I haven’t seen such a situation in the Comelec until now," he said.

Comelec Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco charged that Comelec executive director Mamasapunod Aguam recommended the employment of Amerol Zubair who was caught bringing out official ballots from the National Printing Office.

Aguam, meanwhile, claimed that Tancangco had photographed the serial numbers of the highly confidential security papers used in printing ballots.

There were also claims of missing rolls of security paper and overprinting. Tancangco is in charge of the printing requirements of the poll body.

"People are confused, I am also confused, on whether there are excess ballots or there is a shortage. The credibility of Comelec is bound to suffer," Cayetano said.

Cayetano, the national vice president of Lakas-NUCD, said the People Power Coalition would also be affected since it is now ahead in the senatorial elections and the opposition might say that the PPC had a hand in the Comelec controversy.