Palace to Congress: Tap other bodies to probe poll fraud

Fearing a power vacuum by June 30 due to the ongoing Congress probe on alleged poll fraud in the recent polls, Malacañang on Thursday urged the legislature to tap other duly authorized bodies to look into the allegations.

Presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said Congress, which started the investigation last Wednesday, could pass the ball to other fora, such as the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Department of Justice (DoJ), and even Ombudsman to investigate the purported electoral fraud, even as he appealed to media not to play up the issue, saying it overshadowed the generally peaceful, orderly, and credible automated elections.

The Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, has yet to canvass the votes for presidential and vice president.

“It is fine to give them some level of attention, but our feeling is that it would be dangerous to allow that to delay the whole process, because there is a constitutional deadline to proclaim and move on to a new leadership.” Saludo said.

May 20, 2010, 7:01pm
By CHARISSA M. LUCI
www.mb.com.ph