‘Bahamas files’: $15M deposits, 14 accounts, 1 Comelec official

FORMER Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice yesterday furnished the Commission on Elections (Comelec) what he labeled as the “Bahamas files” containing documents supposedly bearing the complete details of the foreign bank accounts of a poll official with deposits purportedly totaling $15 million from South Korea.

Speaking to reporters outside the Comelec in Intramuros, Manila, Erice said the Bahamas files purportedly contain bank account details that were sent to him by an anonymous sender.

“I received these Bahamas files that contain details of a Comelec official receiving millions of dollars from South Korea, and allegedly from Miru (Systems). It has 14 foreign accounts of a Comelec official,” said Erice.

“The documents contain the transaction records with complete details, such as who deposited, which banks received the deposits, etc.,” he added.

He said he forwarded the documents to Comelec chairman George Garcia being the head of the institution involved in the controversy.

“I gave him a copy. It’s already up to him (Garcia) how to handle these documents,” said Erice.

The ex-congressman, however, said he will also share copies of the files to senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as Malacañang.

Asked to whom the documents came from, he said it was from an anonymous package sender from the Bahamas.

“It is from the Bahamas. It has no name of the sender,” he said.

Erice said he intends to use the same documents in pursuing graft and corrupt charges against officials of the Comelec and its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) but admitted that its contents must “be verified first.”

“I will also file graft charges against the Comelec officials and Bids and Awards Committee before the Ombudsman,” he said.

The allegations of Erice came days after SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta claimed that at least P120 million have been deposited to 49 offshore bank accounts from South Korean banks with all “indications leading to a Comelec official” without giving names.

Erice said he is uncertain if the Bahamas files are connected to the claims made by Marcoleta.

“I don’t know if these (bank accounts) are among them. But all these accounts were opened in 2023,”