COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia on Thursday said he and other officials of the poll body are prepared to face the complaint filed against them before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over alleged irregularities in the May 12 midterm elections.
“I, along with the members of the Commission en banc, am ready to answer any questions or investigation related to the past elections,” Garcia said in a statement.
“We fully trust the NBI to conduct an objective and impartial investigation, as expected by every Filipino.”
The complaint was filed by a multi-sectoral group composed of bishops, retired generals, and civil society leaders.
They accused the Comelec of committing illegal acts during the conduct of the elections and requested the NBI Anti-Fraud Division to investigate.
Garcia said the allegations are not new and have long been addressed by the poll body. “We’ve repeatedly answered and refuted these baseless accusations,” he added.
He emphasized that the May 12 elections were widely deemed fair, honest, peaceful, and credible—a conclusion supported by various stakeholders, including the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the European Union, the Asian Network for Free Elections, and other international and local observers.
“While we respect differing views as part of a healthy democracy, we stand firm in presenting only the truth,” Garcia said.
The Comelec is facing charges of system interference under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which falls under the NBI’s investigative jurisdiction.
