The Philippine Online Chronicles

Officials involved in electoral scandals will not be participating in the 2010 polls, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo.

Melo has assured that there will be less room for operators because the elections will be automated. He pointed out that the machines cannot be invaded. “The activities of the operators will be lessened (because) everything will be the machine. It will not be touched by human hands. They won’t be able to do anything about it," he said.

According to GMAnews.tv, the members include Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao regional election director Ray Sumalipao, who was charged with “insubordination and misconduct" in 2008, and former Maguindanao provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol, who was charged with “failure to account for election documents, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, and gross insubordination” in 2009.

Some officials on the list have been linked in the “Hello Garci” wiretapping scandal in 2004.

According to Philstar.com the other officials that will be under floating status are: “Yasib Nasin, provincial election supervisor (PES) of Lanao del Sur; Camal Calandada, election assistant for Lanao del Sur; Hamilton Cuevas, PES for Lanao del Norte...Yogie Martirizar for North Cotabato; Lilian Suan-Radam for South Cotabato; Paisal Manding, Alauy Tago, Mamacodal Colangcag and Cayandatu Muliloda, election officers for Lanao del Sur; Dante Parrenas for North Cotabato and Jayson del Rosario, election assistant for Cavite.”