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What happened to Bedol? This is the question to ask Mr. Nicodemo Ferrer, after the “Public Relations” blowup against Lintang Bedol, you would have thought that Lintang Bedol would finally get his penalty for the botched cheating job in Maguindanao. Instead, what happened, was not even a slap in the wrist. Telling Lintang Bedol to come up with a written explanation within ten (10) days why he should not be cited for indirect contempt. Lintang Bedol flew back to Mindanao free as a bird.

Let us revisit the Nicodemo Ferrer blowup, and ask ourselves was this just a Public Relations stunt to make the COMELEC seem serious against Lintang Bedol? After all, didn’t COMELEC en banc also want to charge Bedol for infidelity in the custody of public documents (the election documents)?

Here is the press release from COMELEC back in June 26th,

A fiery elections commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer faced the media this afternoon at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) main office to announce that the poll body is issuing an arrest warrant for Maguindanao elections supervisor Lintang Bedol for infidelity in the custody of public documents and indirect contempt.

Calling him a ‘fugitive’, Comm. Ferrer fired back at Bedol who earlier challenged the COMELEC to file charges against him. “The COMELEC accepts the challenge of Mr. Bedol. I hope he is ready to face the charges” he said.

The poll commissioner, apparently irked by Bedol’s bragging of his small armory, then went on to ask: “Is this the brave Bedol that he claims to be? Kung talagang matapang siya, bakit siya nagtatago sa lungga? (If he really is brave, then why is he in hiding?) Comm. Ferrer heads the Task Force Maguindanao which was created to investigate the allegations of election irregularities in the province.

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos Sr., for his part said that Comm. Ferrer’s position is supported by all Commissioners and has been ‘adopted’ in an en banc resolution calling for the “initiation of a case against Bedol for infidelity and upon filing of the same, a preventive suspension should ensue.” He added that the COMELEC is also “citing him in contempt for his failure to explain in writing despite the show cause order.”