Press Release
June 23, 2006

JBC CAUTIONED AGAINST NOMINATING LAWYER
IMPLICATED IN GARCI SCANDAL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today asked the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to reject the appointment of a lawyer implicated in the Hello Garci scandal as a judge of a lower court.

Pimentel issued the statement upon learning that the JBC reportedly listed Atty. Lintang Bedol for appointment as a judge.

If he is the same Lintang Bedol in the Garci tapes, his name should be removed from the list. His reputation is tarnished, the minority leader said.

Bedol was identified as one of personalities allegedly involved in the rigging of the results of the May 10, 2004 presidential election in some Mindanao provinces to make it appear that President Arroyo won over opposition contender Fernando Poe, Jr., there.

The lone senator from Mindanao urged the JBC to look thoroughly into the background of Atty. Bedol to spare itself from a possible mistake of nominating him for the position that would only undermine its credibility and bring a lot of embarrassment to this independent constitutional body.

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