EDITORIAL - Unmask him

“Koala Boy” is an agent of Malacañang, according to Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin. For its part, the Commission on Elections said the self-proclaimed whistle-blower wearing a mask that makes him look like the Australian marsupial is working for a losing candidate in the presidential race and might soon face appropriate charges for undermining the elections. Comelec officials appear to have sought the help of security agencies in identifying the alleged whistle-blower who goes by the name of Robin.

Malacañang immediately denied Locsin’s allegation. The nation is waiting for the next move of the Comelec, whose officials also voiced suspicion that Koala Boy has been paid to go public with a false story of automated fraud. At the same time, the poll body urged losing candidates to bring their complaints, including what they claim as solid evidence of cheating, before the proper adjudicator, the Comelec, which is also the body tasked to proclaim winners in local races.

The sooner those complaints are brought to the Comelec, the quicker they can be settled. The House of Representatives may be a good venue for getting publicity, but only the Comelec can proclaim the winners, or reverse its proclamation if warranted. Koala Boy, vandalized precinct count optical scan machines and flash cards of dubious origins will not reverse the victory of Sen. Benigno Aquino III in the presidential race. Using Koala Boy and the flash cards as an excuse, the House can sit on Aquino’s proclamation and that of the winner in the vice presidential race, but only until shortly before noon of June 30. The long wait seems unlikely to reverse the defeat of those behind the delayed proclamation, which has created tension after the generally peaceful elections.

Koala Boy helped stir up that tension. If he is telling the truth about cheating, he must not fear the disclosure of his identity and repeating his story under oath. If he is lying, he must be penalized for undermining the credibility of the vote. Either way, Koala Boy must be unmasked.