Bedol arrested in Mindanao

By Ronron
July 2, 2007

Police arrested midnight of Sunday Maguindanao Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol at a hospital in Davao City where he underwent an eye operation.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said Monday that Bedol was confined when placed under arrest at the Davao Doctor’s Hospital under a different name, indicating he was in hiding.

“He is now under our custody,” Goltiao said in a phone interview.

Goltiao said Bedol did not resist when arrested by members of the ARMM Police Task Force BEDOL, composed of elements from the Intelligence, Regional Mobile Group (RMG), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

He did not have a firearm also, said Goltiao.

Bedol was ordered arrested by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after he failed to show up during hearings about alleged irregularities in the conduct of elections in Maguindanao last May 14.

The transfer of Bedol yesterday to Manila was delayed, however, because his doctor advised him to have more time to recuperate from hypertension and his right eye surgery.

Goltiao said Bedol was expected to reach Manila before 9pm Monday aboard the last Philippine Airlines flight from Davao City.

Asked if Bedol will be immediately turned over to the Comelec upon arrival, Goltiao said: “It looks like the Comelec is reluctant to accept Bedol tonight. So we might place him under our custody.”

But Goltiao said Bedol cannot be brought to Camp Crame because he is not a criminal.

“We might bring him to a hotel. If the Comelec will not pay for the hotel bill, then we will be forced to pay for the bill,” Goltiao said./DMS