Bulay Says He’s Just Warning Against Fake News

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rey Bulay denied on Monday, April 24, he was threatening to have critics of the Comelec arrested, saying he was only warning them that spreading of fake news about the poll body was against the law.

“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” he said at a press briefing.

He said there was a difference between a threat and a warning. “‘Yung ginagawa ko at yung word na ginamit ko ay ‘warning’. Maliwanag,” he added.

Bulay also deplored the social media attacks against him, and appealed to the public to avoid spinning stories that would only add to the workload of the Comelec two weeks before election day.

His fellow Commissioner George Garcia, for his part, said that while he understands Bulay’s sentiments, poll officials should always be mindful of the preeminence of freedom of expression.

“I would always exercise the highest degree of respect as far as opposition or condemnation,” he said, stressing that criticisms “could also be helpful” to the Comelec.

“If there is a criticism, we should not be onion-skinned because this could be helpful in improving our work, maybe we made a mistake, maybe there is a need for adjustment. We are not perfect just like any other government office, and that is why we welcome (criticisms),” Garcia added.

Bulay also said that 14 Comelec officials have replied to his memorandum seeking their explanation regarding the controversy involving private contractor Impact Hub and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

The issue stemmed from Impact Hub Manila’s failure to pay over P14 million it owed Sofitel for the latter’s providing a venue for Comelec’s presidential and vice presidential debates. Bulay is expected to finish his investigation by Friday, April 29.

Meanwhile, President Duterte’s political adviser criticized Bulay on Monday for threatening to jail critics who accuse the poll body of being biased or planning to commit fraud.

Presidential adviser for political affairs Jacinto Paras described Bulay’s statement as “high handed,” noting that the right to free speech, expression and free press is enshrined in the Constitution.

“The people (have) every right under the Constitution to remind the Comelec of its duty. But Bulay, instead of showing and proving to the people that they are capable of performing such duty, unreasonably threatens people, a plain case of sour-graping,” Paras said in a statement.

Paras said Bulay should not be onion-skinned since he is a government official. He said that anyone has a reason to raise issues about the Comelec’s capability to conduct clean and honest elections.

“On many occasions, both houses of Congress have investigated the use of Smartmatic and found that the latter has many defects such that it results (in) a dishonest election,” the political adviser said.

Paras noted that Duterte had advised Comelec to replace Smartmatic and to look for another election technology provider that is “free of fraud.” He was referring to a remark made by the President in Japan in 2019.

“(Even the President) is concerned (about) fraud and especially mentioned Comelec as far as this matter is concerned,” Paras said.

“That’s why Mr. Bulay, people will continue raising issues against the Comelec and Smartmatic and if you can’t accept that fact and do something that would pacify the people instead of threatening them of imprisonment which is uncalled for under the circumstances, then you are further putting more fire into the building,” he added.

Paras said he won’t hesitate to take action if fraud is committed in the upcoming polls. – With Alexis Romero