Poll returns switching ‘nothing new’: Arroyo camp

Friday, July 29, 2011
MANILA — Allegations that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been involved in the switching of election returns (ERs) back in 2004 is old news, her legal spokesperson said Thursday.
The said switching of ERs happened inside the Batasan Pambansa building, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago. He said it was to ensure that then President Arroyo would be proclaimed winner in the presidential elections in case of a recount.
Arroyo’s lead over his opponent in the 2004 presidential elections – the late Fernando Poe Jr. — was more than one million votes.
Lawyer Raul Lambino said in a text message to reporters, however, that “those same allegations were already investigated thoroughly before and even exposed in the media.”
“Nothing new… Now, personalities with their own political agenda to advance are like hyenas savoring to devour their fallen prey by capitalizing on matters that in their minds will help them earn some points from the unsuspecting public,” he said.
Lambino added that the Palace, together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), are quick to make conclusions on former President Arroyo’s involvement “in this fantastic and thrilling heist like a Hollywood blockbuster movie.”
Break-ins
DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima revealed Thursday, after a meeting with Santiago, that there was switching of 2004 ERs in favor of former Arroyo.
She said Santiago presented to her four documents bearing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seal, supposedly the original ERs from different parts of Mindanao. The ERs allegedly came from precincts in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.
These ERs, she added, were stolen at the Batasan Pambansa building and were replaced with fake ones. The four break-ins occurred on separate occasions in January and February 2005.
“The ERs turned over to me are still subject for validation by the Comelec,” she said.
Videos
The revelation was backed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, who released Thursday copies of a video allegedly showing the switching of ERs at the House of Representatives in 2004.
The video allegedly shows the South Wing of the Batasan Pambansa, where ballot boxes were kept for canvassing. Soldiers can be seen carrying boxes out.
Lacson said the videos were given to him by a certain Joel Pinawin, a lieutenant and intelligence officer of the Army reserves. He said Pinawin did not take the video himself and that it was not the original video.
The senator said he will try to reach out to whoever took the video, which he said was taken with a cell phone camera. He said the video was left with his office.
“We’re trying to bring him in (person who took the video). Of course, this will hopefully reinforce Colonel Santiago’s revelation,” he said.
The senator said the owner of the video also has copies of pilfered ERs “as security.”
The senator, who filed a resolution for a Senate investigation on alleged poll fraud, said he will let the DOJ and Comelec to take over.
He said the video and potential witness will be turned over to the joint investigation team. He said, however, that the decision to testify should come from the video taker. “We’ll just assist.”
Lacson made clear that the video has yet to be verified but that whoever took it can easily do that by naming the soldiers shown in the video.
Santiago, according to de Lima, implicated as alleged perpetrators of the fraud veteran election lawyer Roque Bello, PNP Director General and now Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and then Special Action Force Director Marcelino Franco.
Santiago said the operation was ordered by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and he and his men received P10,000 each for the operation.
But Bello and Ebdane denied the allegations, saying they have no knowledge of the reported ERs switching.
“Santiago is like a son to me…Nakakasama ng loob na ganun nga, masisira yung pagkakaibigan,” Ebdane said in a television interview Thursday evening.
He declined to comment further, saying he will answer the allegation in the proper forum.
“I cannot quarrel with him (Santiago) in the media,” Ebdane said in a text message to Sun.Star.
Bello, for his part, said he has not participated in any presidential elections.
Investigation
But with the revelations made by Santiago, congressmen are seeking an investigation on the reported “break-in” at the Batasan Pambansa building.
Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada said there was a breach of security in the Batasan Pambansa complex and the House of Representatives “should get the answers” to the revelations made by Santiago.
“The House should ask the question, who is the PNP unit guarding the House loyal to? Is it to the Chief PNP or DILG? Or is it to the Speaker of the House and the Representatives?” Tanada said in a text message. The Speaker then was former Pangasinan Representative Jose De Venecia.
Deputy Majority Leader and Marikina Representative Romero Frederico Quimbo said the break-in “amounts to an affront of the institution’s sanctity.”
“It’s unacceptable. There should be a disciplinary action not just for House employees but for security forces responsible too,” he said in a text message.
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Representative Sherwin Tugna, meanwhile, believes that former House Speaker De Venecia should spill the beans on the controversy especially that Congress’ security and integrity are at stake.
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino, who earlier filed a resolution urging a House probe on the allegations of 2004 and 2007 election fraud, intends to make a motion on Monday for the House to act immediately on the breach of security in 2005.
While Arroyo’s allies in the House minority bloc said they will support a probe on the supposed break-in, Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said this does not automatically mean that the former President cheated in the 2004 presidential elections.
“(A) 1.2 million lead (on votes) is a sizeable amount. They can open the ballot boxes in Cebu, Pampanga where she has an insurmountable lead. Besides, this has always been the issue during elections. If you lost, you got cheated,” he said.
Maguindanao Representative Simeon Datumanong, for his part, wants the matter left with the Commission on Elections and the DOJ.
Datumanong said the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms should just focus on possible amendments to the automation law.
For Senator Francis Pangilinan, the investigation should bring closure to allegations of poll fraud that have hounded the 2004 elections.
“I too am interested in the whole truth because it will be a chance for those involved in cheating to be unmasked,” he said.
Breakthrough
In Malacanang, the emergence of new witnesses on the supposed election fraud in 2004 was considered a “breakthrough” in giving light to the anomaly.
“The fact that these people who perpetrated the break-in themselves and they decided to come out is break through to the case,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
He said the Palace welcomed the fact that more people are having the courage to come forward and shed light to the alleged massive cheating in 2004 elections.
He said just like any other testimonies, Malacanang would first assess and evaluate the revelations and affidavits that the witnesses made.
He also noted that the Palace will just leave to the DOJ and DILG on what actions to make since several of the officers who testified about the break-ins are still in active service.
“First of all, we would like to evaluate and assess the affidavits provided by these people who perpetrated the break-in. And once confirmed by the secretary of justice, the DOJ would advise the DILG as to what actions to be recommended towards those who are still in active service,” he said.
Lacierda assured that the government will provide security for those who are testifying on the poll fraud if they asked for it. (Jill Beltran/Kathrina Alvarez/With Anthony Bayarong of Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/29/poll-returns-switching-nothing-new-arroyo-camp-169605

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