Comelec officials, Smartmatic face graft charges By Marie A. Surbano 07/23/2010

Comelec officials, Smartmatic face graft charges

By Marie A. Surbano 07/23/2010 The woes of Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners, along with some of its officials, such as Executive Director Jose Tolentino as well as officials of Smartmatic-TIM Corp. are far from over. The Philippine Computer Society (PCS) has charged before the Office of the Ombudsman some officials of the (Comelec), Smartmatic TIM Corp., and members of the Technical Evaluation Committee for alleged “incompetence” and for entering into anomalous contracts ahead of the elections. In a complaint lodged before the Ombudsman, PCS named 17 officials of the Comelec and Smartmatic TIM Corp. as respondents to the case. The complaint asked the Ombudsman to investigate them for unethical conduct and graft and corruption. PCS accused the Comelec, Smartmatic-TIM and the TEC of colluding and conspiring to breach laws on automated elections and government procurement, among others. Among those charged are Comelec chairman Jose Melo, commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal, Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle, and Elias Yusoph.  Sarmiento is a candidate for the post of Supreme Court Justice, as a vacancy in the high court occurred with the appointment of Justice Renato Corona as chief justice of the high court. An SC candidate who has pending criminal charges is automatically passed over.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100723hed5.html

HEADLINES Pangilinan’s LP bloc cracks, goes for JPE Pro-import DTI chief riles local traders Palace softens stance on GMA ‘deals’ in Noy Sona Comelec officials, Smartmatic face graft charges Mikey House seat challenged in SC; Reyes allowed to sit as party-list rep Villar’s C-5 ethics case goes to archives — JPE