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Comelec says Commissioner Neri ready to face charges in proper forum

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Aimee Neri and Ferdinand Topacio" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/03/11/20220311-neri-topacio.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA—A newly appointed poll body official is ready to face any inquiry in connection with the allegations made by a lawyer of a convicted drug lord, the Commission on Elections said Friday.</p><p>Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio alleged his client Herbert Colanggo gave then Justice Assistant Secretary Aimee Neri P10 million to &quot;fix&quot; the latter&#x27;s robbery case before the Supreme Court.</p><p>&quot;I raised the matter with Commissioner Neri herself and she assured me that she was ready to face these charges in the proper forum. So, I guess we&#x27;ll just have to wait until that happens,&quot; Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Rundown.&quot;</p><p>The poll body will also wait if Colanggo&#x27;s camp will oppose Neri&#x27;s confirmation before the Commission on Appointments, he said.</p><p>&quot;Other than that, of course, Commissioner Neri assures the public that all of these accusations are not substantiated and that ultimately they will be proven false,&quot; Jimenez added.</p><p>Topacio claimed that when Colanggo was convicted in 2018, Neri allegedly returned only P7 million.</p><p>Herajen Colanggo, the daughter of Herbert, tried to collect the remaining P3 milliion from Neri last year but Neri allegedly had her arrested over &quot;extortion,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Let me make it clear. It is not the issue as to whether the money was returned or not, that is a minor issue in this case. The issue in this case is the act of a public official in claiming to be able to fix cases in the Supreme Court,&quot; Topacio told ABS-CBN News.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/08/22/duterte-names-new-comelec-chair-2-new-commissioners">Duterte appoints NCMF chief, ex-Marcos lawyer, DSWD exec to Comelec</a></li></ul><p>Neri was among the 3 new Comelec officials appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte this week.</p><p>Before her appointment, she previously held posts in the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration and Department of Social Welfare and Development.</p><p>She has yet to comment on the allegation.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/09/22/new-comelec-execs-vow-independence-integrity">New Comelec execs vow independence, integrity amid concerns</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1959388" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

A newly appointed poll body official is ready to face any inquiry in connection with the allegations made by a lawyer of a convicted drug lord.