Comelec chief mulls raps over alleged P10-M payoff from Zaldy Co

MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said he is considering the filing of charges against those accusing him of receiving PHP10 million from former bodyguards of former congressman Zaldy Co.

Garcia, however, said he would wait for his accusers to swear their allegations under oath before filing cases.

“Because it is not under oath, we cannot charge them with what is called perjury. Perjury is more serious, the possible punishment for that is up to six years and one day [imprisonment]. So because this was not a sworn statement, we can only charge them with what is called oral defamation,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

READ: Comelec’s Garcia denies receiving money from Co: All lies

He also denied receiving suitcases containing money from anomalous flood control projects.

“It’s a big lie. In our country today, it’s very easy to sell lies as long as there’s a price,” the Comelec chairperson said.

At the same time, he believed that the May 2028 polls could be among the reasons why he is being implicated in the controversy.

READ: Comelec chief: PH ‘mess’ due to voters themselves

“The institution can be destroyed because of that demolition job. So, that’s what we are seeing as a reason,” Garcia said.

On Tuesday, one of Co’s former bodyguards claimed that they delivered a bag containing PHP10 million cash to the poll body chief. (PNA)

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