Comelec legal dep’t chief gunned down

The chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal department was shot dead in Manila early evening yesterday.

Initial reports said lawyer Alioden Dalaig was found slumped unconscious  with a gunshot wound in the chest in front of the Hyatt Hotel at the corner of  M.H. Del Pilar  and Pedro Gil streets in Ermita, Manila.

Dalaig, 64, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ospital ng Maynila at around 7:30 p.m., officials said.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez confirmed Dalaig was killed but failed to elaborate on the motive of the attack.

“I’m here confirming it was Attorney  Dalaig who was killed. Right now, members of his family and the Comelec family are waiting for autopsy results,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez maintained they would leave it up to the police to investigate the motive behind Dalaig’s killing.

Dalaig’s wife Felomena,  claimed her husband had been receiving death threats lately. She failed to elaborate on the threats made to her husband.

“We were very shocked. I could not believe it when people started calling me about it.  He is a big loss for the Comelec,” Jimenez added.

Investigators led by SPO4 Alfredo dela Rosa said there were no witnesses so far to describe how Dalaig was shot.

De La Rosa said Dalaig was carrying P300,000 cash but ruled robbery out as the possible motive since the money and personal belongings of the victim were intact following the attack.

President Arroyo immediately ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the killing.

“The President condemns this brutal act. She has ordered the PNP to leave no stone unturned so that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

The killing came on the heels of the controversy surrounding the creation of a screening committee to evaluate candidates for the new chairman and vacancies in Comelec.

Dalaig was among the nominees for the vacancies submitted by Malacanang to Comelec for comment.

His chance of bagging a post was believed preempted, however, by the appointment of Commissioner Moselem Macarambon,  a fellow Muslim.

Dalaig is also a known friend of former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol who were both accused of manipulating the 2004 and 2007 polls, respectively.

Dalaig recently signed the arrest order against Bedol who continued to evade arrest.

Jimenez said  Dalaig has been serving the Comelec for 30 years and was on his way to retirement.

He described Dalaig as a person with a “sunny disposition.”

“He is actually called ‘Justice Dalaig’ at the (Comelec’s) law department.  He was very authoritative in his opinions about election-related matters,” Jimenez said.

Asked if the motive has something to do with his work in the Comelec, Jimenez pointed Dalaig handles all the legal cases in the Comelec, particularly those concerning election protests.