Comelec chief to issue waivers on alleged bank accounts in Cayman Islands

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Thursday said he would issue absolute waivers anew against two offshore bank accounts in Cayman Islands which a lawmaker alleged to have received deposits from South Korean banks.

“Mag-iissue muli ako ng waivers. In fact, may sulat uli ako sa Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) na ipapatanggap natin ngayon,”  Garcia told reporters in an interview. 

(I will issue fresh waivers on these bank accounts. In fact, I wrote a letter to the AMLC, which will be sent today.)

Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta said that he and his team were able to verify that the two offshore accounts belong to Garcia by depositing money and asking for a bank receipt, which allegedly yielded the latter's name.

Marcoleta earlier  linked Garcia to offshore accounts amounting to as much as P1 billion which the latter denied. He likewise requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the AMLC to formally investigate the accusations. 

"These [documents] cannot be just plainly denied. The burden of proof shifted to him (Garcia) already," Marcoleta said in a press conference.

Marcoleta then said the development makes the awarding of the P18-billion automated election contract to the joint venture led by the South Korean firm Miru suspicious. 

"He should explain this. We can't sacrifice our elections. Let me reiterate: the Comelec has enough time to scrap its deal with Miru, as it can use the over 93,000 vote-counting machines (VCMs) it had acquired from Smartmatic for previous automated elections. These VCMs are still serviceable and covered by warranty and provision of spare parts until 2025," the lawmaker added.

Marcoleta said he filed a resolution Wednesday seeking a congressional probe into the matter.

Garcia, for his part, welcomed the Congressional probe, saying he is “ready” to face any investigation. He also denied the bribery accusations anew and reiterated he has no offshore accounts nor properties abroad. 

The Comelec chief earlier issued waivers against alleged offshore bank accounts that Marcoleta previously claimed to be receiving bribe money from South Korean banks. 

“Handang-handa ako humarap sa kahit anong pagdinig kahit sa Mababang Kapulungan upang maliwanag ang mga bagay na ito,” he said. 

(I am ready to face any investigation including the House hearing.)

“Gusto ko ‘yung hearing, at ito ang pinakaimportante. Para maitanong sakin sino nagbigay ng white paper? Saan nanggaling? Miyembro ba ng Kongreso? Sino nagbigay sa kaniya? Ano ang pinangako nung nagbigay sa kaniya? Willing ako sagutin lahat ng katanungan na ‘yan,” he added. 

(I want to attend the hearing so I will be asked how did I obtain the white paper. I am willing to answer these questions.)

Meanwhile, the poll body chief stood firm that he would not resign over the allegations. 

“Bakit magreresign kung accusations hindi pinanumpaan, pagkatapos public opinion? ’Pag ganun na pinagre-resign, eh lahat na lang ng official sa pamahalaan aakusahan. Simula sa presidente hanggang sa barangay kagawad, aakusahan tapos resign nang resign. Hindi naman po pwede na ganun ang proseso,” he said. 

(Why should we resign if they made the accusations without oath and we’re being subjected to public opinion? If all officials will be asked to resign then all government officials will be accused. That shouldn’t be the process.)

Garcia earlier said he was eyeing filing charges against individuals behind the alleged demolition job.—LDF, GMA Integrated News