A lawmaker on Thursday called for an investigation into alleged bribery and corruption within the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta filed a House resolution to probe “alleged deposits made to several offshore bank accounts of a high-ranking Comelec official for possible violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
Marcoleta named Comelec Chairman George Garcia and the joint venture led by South Korean firm Miru Systems, which secured an P18 billion contract for the May 2025 automated election system, in his resolution.
At a press conference, Marcoleta challenged Garcia’s previous assertion that he does not own an offshore account.
Marcoleta presented documents allegedly showing that fund transfers made by their volunteer to two offshore accounts with the beneficiary name “George Erwin Mojica Garcia” were successful.
“Makikita ninyo na ‘yung aming volunteer sa New York nag-deposit ng 100 dollars sa account number ending 0550… Ang may pangalan George Erwin Mojica Garcia. Nagdeposit din ‘yung volunteer natin sa New York 100 dollars sa account ending 8562. Tingnan nyo ang pangalan, George Erwin Mojica Garcia,” Marcoleta said.
“Malinaw na malinaw na ‘yung dalawang deposit transactions affirm the existence of two offshore bank accounts of COMELEC Chair George Garcia in Cayman Islands. I think this is very conclusive,” he added.
“’Yan ay consumer and banking subsidiary ng isang reputable, world-renowned banking institution based in America. Kaya ‘yung transaction records na nage-generate for business ay masasabi nating authentic and untampered,” Marcoleta said.
However, Marcoleta stated he has yet to establish the supposed connection between the two offshore accounts and Miru.
“Hindi ko pa masabing may connection sa Miru. Ngunit dahil hindi ipinapaliwanag ang circumstances kung bakit na-procure ‘yung services ng Miru, ‘yung system at makinang gagamitin, ay matagal na nating sinasabing lihis sa batas,” Marcoleta said.
Marcoleta also mentioned that some offshore bank accounts, which he previously claimed were “traceable” to a Comelec official and received deposits from banks in South Korea, have been closed after he raised the issue last month.
He urged Garcia to provide an explanation and suggested resignation as an option if he fails to give a satisfactory response.
“Kung magre-resign siya, pwede rin, hindi ba? It is an option for him, unless he is able to explain this well, which is acceptable to the public. I think the burden shifted to him already. Can he explain this? He should explain all these,” Marcoleta said.
“Kaya niya bang patunayan ito? ‘Pag hindi niya kayang patunayan ito, hindi ba pwedeng kayo na ang mag-pressure sa kanya, baka may gusto pa siyang gawin alang-alang sa pagmamahal sa bansa niya,” he told the media.
Garcia expressed his readiness to address the allegations in the proper forum.
In a text message to ABS-CBN News, the Comelec Chief stated that the alleged offshore accounts linked to him were “fake.” He challenged Marcoleta to make his accusations under oath.
“Fake po ‘yung accounts. Tapos kabubukas lang ‘yung pinakita na pinadalhan ng 100USD. Kahit sa local banks, basta tama ang account number, pero mali ang name ay successful pa rin ang transaction… Sana po panumpaan din ang akusasyon at mag waive ng immunity,” Garcia said.
“Sasagutin ko ‘yan sa tamang forum po. Sapagkat total naman sinasabi nila magpa-hearing, sige po. Okay na okay ako maghearing. Tingnan natin lahat ng accounts na ito,” he added in an interview.
Garcia rejected the call for him to resign from his post.
“Hindi po siguro solusyon ‘yung pagri-resign. Ang solusyon po dito, alamin ang katotohanan, sino ang mga nasa likod ng lahat ng ito,” Garcia said.
He had categorically denied owning any offshore bank account and has engaged the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the allegations. He said he gave the NBI an absolute waiver to aid in its investigation.