Manila, 07 August 2007— The Commission on Election (Comelec) decision over the contempt charges against election supervisor Lintang Bedol provoked negative reactions from many including Church and church-based groups. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said Bedol’s case deserves a “stronger” penalty.
“Yes, the Comelec acted but it’s too little and too slow,” he said.
Cruz said he was expecting a tough decision from the poll body especially because Bedol’s case has something to do with the results of the recent senatorial race.
The Comelec on Tuesday declared Bedol guilty of indirect contempt for snubbing summons to hearing on the controversial votes in Maguindanao province.
The poll body sentenced Bedol to six months in prison and directed him to pay a fine of P1,000. Bedol posted bail.
The bishop said the Comelec’s decision should have been heavier, adding that the imposed fine was “too small.”
“It should have been a faster pronouncement and the penalty should been more impressive,” said Cruz.
A church-backed poll watchdog has also expressed frustration at the verdict meted out to Bedol. Bedol was accused by various groups of maneuvering the cheating in his jurisdiction during the May 14 election.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said the Comelec’s decision is only like a “slap of wrist” to a person who even deserves a life sentence.
“Cheating again is proven as a crime that pays,” said PPCRV national chairperson Henrietta De Villa.
The reported cheating in Maguindanao, she said, was unfair to PPCRV volunteers—Christians and Muslims—who risked their lives and limbs for clean and peaceful polls.
Because of the “folly” of Bedol and other election operators, De Villa said, the elections in Maguindanao continue to be an albatross on Comelec’s neck.
But because of the investigation taken and a poll officer sentenced, De Villa still see sincerity in the Comelec leadership to clean their ranks.
“We hope and pray that the elements in Comelec will continue with courage the housecleaning they have begun so that scalawags, no matter who they are, may be banished and held accountable for their crimes and misdeed,” De Villa said. – Roy Lagarde