Comelec jails Bedol

After surrendering to the Department of the Interior and Local Government last Friday, former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol, together with his lawyer Roberto Ultado, went to the Commission on Election on Wednesday to face the charges filed against him.

Bedol hid for four years for his role in the alleged massive poll fraud in 2004 and 2007. With that he faces a six-month jail term.

Ulatado, however, said that his client Bedol voluntarily surrendered to the DILG last Friday upon securing a copy of the "alias" warrant of arrest filed by the Comelec.

"Attorney Bedol has been turned over to us. So officially, Attorney Bedol is now in the custody of the commission," said Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes.

"The final decision of the commission en banc turned out to be a unanimous vote except for commissioner (Rene) Sarmiento, who is abroad. It (detention) will be in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame," said Brillantes.

Brilliantes said that they chose Camp Crame was because they did not want the principal suspects of the Maguindanao massacre case and Bedol to have any chance of communicating.

Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo denied that Malacañang is "coddling" Bedol. — ARA