THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to follow the order of the Supreme Court (SC) for it to shed light on how it utilized its intelligence funds but not to its rivals, the Automated Elections System (AES) Watch.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they will not hesitate revealing to the courts how they utilized their P30-million intelligence fund and prove that there were no misuses committed.
"Pwede ko ipakita sa court pero hindi nila (AES Watch) makikita. Sa court ko lang papakita kasi marami pang ibang bagay na nakalagay doon na hindi dapat nila (AES Watch) makita," said Brillantes.
He said the poll body cannot just bring out in public what they do to their intelligence funds since it would be an illogical move.
"If you allow now that intelligence fund would be forced out, then mawawala na lahat ng intelligence fund confidentiality," said Brillantes.
On Tuesday, the SC compelled the Comelec to release information on how it used the intelligence funds regularly allocated for poll officials.
The SC ruling was in response to the petition for writ of habeas data filed by the AES Watch last July 3. The group asked the SC to order the Comelec to cease and desist from conducting surveillance on members of the organization through the use of its intelligence fund.
In Wednesday's interview, Brillantes said: "I can state under oath that I'm not spending a single cent on my intelligence fund to any reference to AES Watch or to any individual in the AES Watch."
AES Watch has been the staunchest critic of the Comelec in terms of using the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the last midterm polls. (HDT/Sunnex)