GARCI BOYS NOT INVOLVED IN 2010 POLLS / HAYDEN FACES RAPS, BELO CLEARED
MANILA, OCTOBER 23, 2009 (STAR) In an effort to shake off the stigma caused by the “Hello, Garci” wiretapping scandal in 2004, Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo assured the public yesterday that Comelec officials involved in electoral scams would not be allowed to participate in next year’s polls.“They will have no (significant) role in the 2010 elections,” Melo said.
Melo mentioned lawyer Rey Sumalipao, one of the 13 poll officials investigated by the Comelec’s legal department for alleged irregularities committed during the 2007 midterm elections.
He said Sumalipao had been the subject of complaints from voters during the 2007 elections that forced his relief as regional election director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) the following year.
Aside from Sumalipao, the other election officials that are being kept on “floating status” include Yasib Nasin, provincial election supervisor (PES) of Lanao del Sur; Camal Calandada, election assistant for Lanao del Sur; Hamilton Cuevas, PES for Lanao del Norte; Lintang Bedol for Maguindanao; Yogie Martirizar for North Cotabato; Lilian Suan-Radam for South Cotabato;
Paisal Manding, Alauy Tago, Mamacodal Colangcag and Cayandatu Muliloda, election officers for Lanao del Sur; Dante Parrenas for North Cotabato and Jayson del Rosario, election assistant for Cavite.
Sumalipao and Bedol were among the poll officials mentioned in the “Hello, Garci” wiretap scandal that supposedly detailed the telephone conversation between former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and President Arroyo during the 2004 presidential elections.
Melo said administrative cases have been filed by the Comelec against the 13 poll officials after finding them liable for various election offenses and irregularities.
Melo though admitted some of the officials concerned “are already in hiding.”
“They could no longer be found,” he said.
Melo expressed confidence that the so-called “operators” would not have the chance to manipulate poll results with the implementation of the automation that would limit human intervention in the election process.
“Everything will be automated, untouched by human hands. They could no longer do anything about it. They cannot invade all the machines. Many will lose their sideline,” Melo said.
Hayden to face raps; Belo cleared By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) Updated October 23, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the indictment of cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr. in the complaint filed by actress/model Katrina Halili stemming from the racy video showing them in explicit sexual acts.
In a 24-page resolution, the investigating panel led by Senior State Prosecutor Emilie Fe de los Santos said there is probable cause to indict Kho for violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (Republic Act 9262).
“Respondent Kho’s act of videotaping his very intimate moments with complainant, who obviously did not know what he was doing, clearly shows and manifests his lack of respect for women,” the prosecutors said.
In the same resolution, the prosecutors pointed out that Kho violated the trust and confidence given to him by Halili during their intimate moments.
“What respondent Kho did to complainant is a clear betrayal of the trust and love she gave him that has caused her emotional or psychological distress and is as abhorrent as violence of any kind,” the prosecutors said.
The prosecutors said Kho specifically violated section 5 (h) and (i) of RA 9262, which covers “engaging in purposeful, knowing or reckless conduct, personally or through another, that alarms or causes substantial emotional or psychological distress to the woman or her child” and “causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the woman or her child.”
The prosecutors denied Kho’s claim that the video was not intended for public viewing.
They pointed out Kho violated the law when he video taped his intimate moments with Halili without her knowledge and consent.
The prosecution panel, however, cleared popular cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo along with Eric Johnston Chua, Mark Herbert “Bistek” Rosario and Princess Velasco of the charges for insufficiency of evidence.
In her complaint, Halili accused Belo and the three other respondents of conspiring to make public the sex video and post it on the Internet.
Although Belo, Chua, Rosario and Velasco knew of the existence of the sex video, the prosecutors said their silence or failure to inform the authorities does not make them accessories to the crime.
“Such omission is not one of the acts enumerated under Article 19 of Revised Penal Code,” the prosecutors pointed out.
The prosecutors stressed the need to conduct further investigation of the issue to determine who should be held responsible for uploading the sex video on the Internet.
The prosecutors said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should conduct a further probe and look into the possible criminal liability of the respondents and other persons.
Kho was among those accused by Halili of uploading on the Internet the racy videos of their sexual encounters.
The accusations also prompted the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) to investigate Kho and eventually suspend him from medical practice for one year.
Kho admitted filming the sexual encounters but denied uploading the videos, accusing Chua, Rosario and Velasco of making copies from his laptop computer.
Prosecutors noted Kho had admitted his laptop computer also contained videos of his sexual encounters with other women.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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