Tingog.com

Along with my colleagues, other bloggers, media, and even politicians, we thought that Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento was an individual that we could trust and one that was full of integrity. But two incidents may just have reversed this thinking. An incident with some Election Returns in Lanao Del Sur and a sudden resignation from Task Force Maguindanao.

Let’s talk first about the Election Returns. According to ABS-CBN news,

The Commission on Election took custody of blank election returns in the provincial capitol of Lanao del Sur and transported the documents to a hotel in Iligan City, ABS-CBN News Channel reported Monday.

ABS-CBN correspondents Ricky Carandang and Noel Alamar reported that a group of COMELEC officers, led by a poll official who was mentioned in the “Hello, Garci” recordings, took over custody of the blank ERs from the Lanao del Sur provincial treasurer’s office in Marawi City on Sunday.

Footage taken by ABS-CBN showed COMELEC officers hauling the ERs to Maria Cristina Hotel in Iligan City, which is an hour and a half drive away from the provincial capitol of Lanao del Sur.

Alamar reported that Sarmiento earlier denied ordering the transfer of the ERs but changed his story after seeing ABS-CBN’s footage. Officers of the provincial treasurer’s office said they were not informed about Sarmiento’s orders regarding the transfer.

So, I give up. I no longer have any more illusions as to the credibility of the Comelec, not even Sarmiento.

And Sarmiento was supposed to head Task Force Maguindanao which is responsible for investigating the discrepancies in the Maguindanao votes. Sarmiento resigned from the assignment citing health problems. Allegations have been leveled that he was forced out. And that the resignation from the assignment was political. Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer will replace Sarmiento as chief of Task Force Maguindanao. I hope part of that task force actually investigates the Election Returns as well.