MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia denied a lawmaker’s allegations that he owns multiple foreign bank accounts where around P1 billion funds were allegedly transferred.
According to Garcia, he already anticipated the planned demolition job against the poll body by some individuals after hearing about it two weeks ago.
Sagip Party-list’s Rep. Rodante Marcoleta claimed on Tuesday that a Comelec official owns a total of 49 offshore accounts and properties abroad.
He added that at least P1 billion worth of funds were allegedly transferred from South Korean-based banks to these accounts.
“Huwag na natin paikut -kutin. Ako po yung nire-refer doon. Natutuwa ako, napakadami ko daw foreign accounts. Sa totoo lang, wala ako kahit isang foreign account. Mapanunumpaan ko po ‘yan kahit saan,” Garcia said.
“May press con, may ganitong issues. Nung hindi effective, kailangan sirain ang Commission sa pamamagitan ng chairman,” he added. “Kahit kailan hindi pa ako nakakatapak sa US sa kasaysayan ng buhay ko.”
The Comelec chairperson also said he already requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the allegations being hurled against him.
“Sa sulat sa NBI, nag-request ako baka pwede imbestigahan sino nagkakalat, kung totoo ang mga akusasyon laban sa akin, at nag-issue tayo ng waiver sa alleged accounts sa lahat ng nasa listahan,” Garcia said.
“Kung akin yun, tingnan, buksan at alamin kung may tunay bang account, history ng account, at kung ano laman nun, kung gusto nila, kanila na laman nun,” he added.
Garcia concluded his presser by urging Marcoleta to verify information before making accusations.
“Napakamalisyoso ng mga sinabi sa press conference na ‘yun,” Garcia said./PN
