Comelec probing politicians allegedly asking barangay candidates to step down

The Commission on Elections is investigating reports of a governor and congressman allegedly asking barangay candidates to step down before the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

L-R: NYC Luzon Comm. Ronald Cardema, Comelec Acting Chair. Al Pareño, Comelec Chair. Sheriff Abas, and DILG Asec. Jonathan Malaya face the media for the opening of the Comelec Command Center. pic.twitter.com/1GQC9ZgM41

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) May 11, 2018

Lawyer Teofisto E. Elnas Jr., Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD)  Director IV, said Friday that Comelec is verifying the veracity of the report from an informant from an unnamed region regarding the alleged talks.

"Vina-validate pa natin yan. It's just raw data from a concerned citizen na pumasok dito sa command center namin," said Elnas, referring to the command center Comelec set up to monitor the polls and receive election-related concerns from the public.

Once verified, the Comelec will further investigate the incident to assess if an election offense has been committed.

"Ie-endorse po namin yan, iva-validate natin 'yan... Kung meron mang makikita ang department natin na election offense, kakasuhan, so pag-aralan pa," Elinas explained.

Voters and concerned citizens with similar reports or other election-related questions may dial 8888 to contact the Comelec command center. —KG, GMA News