Another reason for Nick to be angry. And oh, boy, that was fast!

COMELEC grants Bedol’s motion for bail

The Commission on Elections granted Wednesday the motion for bail filed by Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol a day after it sentenced the lawyer to six months in prison for indirect contempt.

A radio DZMM report said Bedol would be released from COMELEC custody after his camp posted P15,000 bail. Bedol spent one night at the COMELEC’s law department in Intramuros, Manila while the poll office prepared his detention papers.

Aside from the jail sentence, Bedol was fined P1,000 for indirect contempt.

The COMELEC said Bedol was guilty of violating COMELEC rules for repeatedly snubbing summonses to attend the its hearings. It added that Bedol failed to attend to the counting of votes from Maguindanao.

The poll body also cited Bedol’s failure to deliver the municipal certificates of canvass to the COMELEC office in Manila and his pronouncements to the media calling on the COMELEC to sue him so he could face his accusers in court.

The COMELEC also scored Bedol for brandishing a pistol during a media interview and admitting that he owned an armory.

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said although Bedol is allowed to be released on bail, he should be available whenever the poll body summons him. He said it would be hard for Bedol to go back to his duties given the numerous complaints filed against him before the commission.

Abalos earlier said Bedol could still face electoral sabotage charges before the commission. “Precisely he will be investigated if his actions will amount to an electoral sabotage. We are not closing the avenue on that. Iimbestigahan siya (He will be investigated),” he told DZMM.

Abalos said the six-month jail sentence was the maximum penalty prescribed by law for Bedol’s violation.

He noted that the charge of infidelity in the custody of public documents against Bedol has been referred to the Department of Justice.

Yes, folks. You can commit a crime, and you can get away with it. Welcome to the Enchanted Kingdom.

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Now, we can only wish erring government officials will do this. I just find it funny that one got disbarred that way, contrasting that with someone who clearly knows how to twist the law. Well, he almost died, so I guess that’s karma for you.

Atty. Adel Tamano was named regent of PLM. Probably the youngest regent, and probably the youngest and the first non-doctor to become president. Hopefully, Dr. Benjamin Tayabas gets what’s due him.