The Commission on Elections has denied reports that the Supreme Court purported decision in favor of poll automation was leaked to the public by no less than the poll body’s Chairman Jose A.R. Melo.

“When Chairman Melo was bombarded with calls from the media yesterday, reports that the High Court have handed down its decision in favor of automation have been circulating already,” stated COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez, adding that the story was already posted in an online news website well in advance of Chairman Melo’s interview.

“Chairman Melo was merely verifying that we had been receiving these reports from various sources, including queries from the members of the media,” he said.

Jimenez, meanwhile, slammed attempts to portray this as analogous to the case of former Justice Ruben Reyes.

“It is as unfortunate as it is in error to imply that the Chairman was privy to the deliberations of the court,” he said. “We were on tenterhooks just like everybody else.” ###