Journalist group accuses unnamed Comelec officer of bribery

Journalist organization Alab ng Mamamahayag (Alam) on Monday accused a Commission on Elections officer of asking for a P3 million bribe in order for Alam to be accredited as a party-list participant in the 2013 midterm polls. The Comelec’s second division, led by Commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle, had rejected Alam’s accreditation petition last September 12.

 

In a motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec, Alam’s legal counsel and second nominee Berteni Causing revealed that a Comelec official sought the bribe from Alam officer Edwin Alcala.

 

Alam party chairman and first nominee Jerry Yap said their group was denied accreditation “because it refused to give P3 million in exchange for the grant of the application of Alam.”

  

Alam, which refused to identify the election officer, said in its motion, “Alam will submit as part of the supplemental motion for reconsideration the sworn statement of the official who was approached in the middle of July 2012.”

 

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the commission will answer the accusations of Alam “at the proper forum.”

 

“We are thankful that this group followed the due process and filed their complaint here at the Comelec .We know that Comelec officials are vulnerable to charges and we are ready to answer that at the proper forum,” the spokesperson said. — DVM, GMA News