Comelec union backs Garcia, integrity of 2025 polls

The employees' union of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday expressed support for the poll body as it denounced the alleged “systematic attack on the credibility of the institution” ahead of the May 2025 elections. 

In a statement, the Comelec Employees’ Union (Comelec-EU) said it stands firmly behind Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, who is embroiled in alleged bribery charges. 

“We agree with Chairman Garcia that this is a well-oiled demolition job that is clearly meant to erode the public's trust in the automated election system,” the Comelec-EU said. 

“As election frontliners, we cannot stand idly by as our beloved institution and our leaders are maligned with allegations and insinuations that are so blatantly unfounded and absurd,” it added.

The group said the attacks on Garcia and the Comelec leadership is “an attack on the institution and a direct affront to the credibility of the elections that we have worked so hard to uphold and preserve”.

Last week, SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta questioned the Comelec’s awarding of the P18-billion automated election contract to a joint venture including Korean firm Miru, amid the alleged existence of 49 offshore bank accounts which received money from South Korean banks.

Marcoleta said the decisions during the bidding process up to the awarding of the contract to Miru firm coincided with deposits made to the offshore accounts that he said are apparently linked to a Comelec official.

Garcia admitted he was the poll body official being alluded to but denied owning any foreign bank accounts or properties abroad. 

He has also since requested the NBI and AMLC to formally investigate the accusations and issued secrecy waivers against the involved bank accounts.

The Comelec chief earlier said he is eyeing filing charges against individuals behind the alleged demolition job.

Former Caloocan congressman Edgar Erice also said that he received a package from the Bahamas allegedly containing bank records from bribe money and a list of properties of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official.

Erice did not show the documents to the media.  He also did not name the Comelec official allegedly involved. 

"I will not name it because it is not yet verified," he said.

Erice submitted the documents, which he called the 'Bahamas Files," to the office of Garcia for investigation.

Garcia said the documents were not yet verified and upon checking with at least two banks, he said the accounts do not exist.—AOL, GMA Integrated News