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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcoleta flags Comelec chief Garcia's alleged offshore bank accounts in Cayman Islands

Marcoleta flags Comelec chief Garcia's alleged offshore bank accounts in Cayman Islands

Published Aug 1, 2024 06:40 am

At A Glance

  • SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has challenged Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia to explain the official's supposed ownership of two offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.

20240709_110233.jpgSAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

 

 

 

 

 

“The burden of proof has shifted to him already.”

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta had this to say as he challenged Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia to explain the official’s supposed ownership of two offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.

During a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 1, Marcoleta said his verification team asked the help of a volunteer from New York in the United States (UU) to make a bank transfer of $100 each to two offshore bank accounts allegedly owned by Garcia.

Based on the receipts from Chase for Business presented by the lawmaker, the accounts were under the name of a certain “George Erwin Mojica Garcia” with an address in Makati City.

“Malinaw na malinaw na ‘yung dalawang (It is very clear that the two) deposit transactions affirmed the existence of two offshore bank accounts of Comelec Chair George Garcia in Cayman Islands,” said Marcoleta.

“I think Chairman George Garcia had to do a lot of explaining today,” he added.

This development comes after Marcoleta filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1827, which urged the House of Representatives to direct the appropriate committee to conduct an investigation, with aid of legislation, into the alleged bribery and corruption involving Garcia, Miru Systems, and its local partners.

Marcoleta noted that there is no direct link between the two offshore bank accounts and the South Korea-based Miru. 

However, he claimed in an earlier presser that there were 49 offshore accounts linked to a certain Comelec official, and that some deposits came from South Korean personalities.

According to Marcoleta, these transfers happened during the time when Comelec tapped Miru—the lone bidder—with the P18-billion contract to run the automated system for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.

 

READ THIS:

'Your guess is as good as mine': Marcoleta says Comelec exec opened 49 offshore accounts, but why?

 

The Comelec chief has denied such allegations, describing them as part of a “demolition job”. 

“This is not an accusation already. These are matters for him to answer with clarity and determination. We do not expect pure denial lang kasi (only because) the burden of proof has shifted to him already,” Marcoleta said in response.

As indicated in HR No.1827, Marcoleta aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the matter. He underscored that the integrity of the elections was at stake.

“Kailangan pong mapanatili ‘yung integridad, kalinisan, at katapatan ng ating eleksyon. Ito lamang po kasi ang paraan para ‘yung mamamayan magkaroon sila ng karapatang mapili nila ‘yung mga taong gusto nilang maglingkod para sa kanila,” he said.

(The integrity, cleanliness, and honesty of our election must be maintained. This is the only way for the people to enjoy their right to choose the people they want to serve for them.)

Marcoleta further stresses that if the supposed connivance and conspiracy between Garcia and Miru for the latter’s voting machines for next year’s polls are proven to be true, this would constitute criminal offenses.

He noted that it would violate Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as RA No. 7080 or the Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder.

 

 

READ THIS:

Marcoleta floats possible grounds for impeachment vs Comelec execs over Miru deal

Related Tags

Rodante Marcoleta George Garcia COMELEC miru
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