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Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. Tuesday expressed regret over the resignation of Rene Sarmiento as head of the Commission on Election’s task force that will investigate poll fraud in Maguindanao.

Pimentel voiced suspicion that Sarmiento was compelled to resign due to intense pressure from certain powerful forces that are making it difficult to conduct an honest-to-goodness probe of the rampant anomalies in the Maguindanao elections that gave Team Unity a 12-0 victory in the senatorial derby in the province.

“Sarmiento’s resignation as head of Task Force Maguindanao proves the blatancy of the cheating perpetuated by the administration at the expense of clean and honest elections,” the minority leader said.

“There is no reason for his resignation but the pressure from cheaters, abetted by government figures so great he couldn’t live with it with clear conscience.”

Pimentel reminded the Comelec that the nation expects nothing less than a no-nonsense inquiry into the massive dagdag-bawas operations in Maguindanao in the wake of testimonies by witnesses, including members of boards of election inspectors, that no actual voting occurred in many towns, ballots were filled a day before the May 14 elections, and election returns were fabricated with the knowledge and participation of election supervisors.

He said the investigation will allow witnesses to prove allegations of electoral fraud that may lead to the unmasking of personalities who should be held accountable for gross violation of election laws and for trampling upon the people’s sacrosanct right of suffrage.

The outcome of the investigation will help the Comelec determine whether there is sufficient basis for the opposition’s move to void the election results in Maguindanao and hold an entirely new voting.