PANGILINAN, DRILON SHOULD ALSO BE ASKED TO SPILL ALL ON '04 POLL FRAUD
MANILA, JULY 25, 2011 (TRIBUNE) By Angie M. Rosales - Not only poll operators former Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials Lintang Bedol and Virgilio Garcillano should be asked to reveal all the massive and orchestrated cheatings that happened in the 2004 presidential polls when former President Arroyo stole the presidency from opposition standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr. but also former political allies of the Arroyo administration who are now strong supporters of President Aquino, including Senators Francisco Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon.
Both Pangilinan and Drilon were instrumental in facilitating the canvass in Congress of the votes that led to Arroyo's proclamation with Pangilinan being remembered for breaking his gavel while uttering "noted" on every protest raised by the camp of Poe on election documents.
Present and former legislators said the former Arroyo supporters should also "speak out and tell the people what really happened" in the fraud-marred poll exercise.
"If only for correcting, rectifying the 'error' of the past. At that time they didn't know what was subsequently revealed by (Maguindanao election officer Lintang) Bedol and (former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov.) Zaldy Ampatuan and eventually (in the) Garci tapes," former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said.
Although he did not name names, Pimentel was referring to the likes of his former colleagues, Pangilinan who presided over the national board of canvassers (NBC) for the presidential and vice presidential elections during the 2004 polls being then the upper chamber majority leader and Drilon, who was then Senate president.
Pimentel was at the forefront of defending the votes cast in favor of the late movie icon, Poe, being one of those representing the opposition party, which was merely met with the word "noted" by Pangilinan and his co-presiding officer, then House Deputy Speaker Rep. Raul Gonzales.
"But this time, they already know what happened and (they) should now be realistic and speak out what really happened, admit that they erred in throwing support to the person they have chosen to support, that they should have exercised caution in confirming the election (in office of then President) Gloria Arroyo, " he said in an interview.
"Probably, in the light of the recent revelations, they could now have changed their minds," he said, pointing out that the criminal aspect in the case of alleged poll fraud operations seven years ago, in which Arroyo who is now Pampanga representive emerged as the winner in the said elections, can still be pursued although its political implications are no longer significant.
"As far as political aspect is concerned, in 2004 political aspect can hardly be revived but criminal case is still there because is election election sabotage. Practically what remains to be done is (file a) criminal case. It cannot be said that this has lapsed. The penalty is reclusion perpetua which according to law, is prescribed only within 20 years. So it's still applicable," he explained.
Sen. Sergio Osmena III echoed the position of Pimentel although he was quick in pointing out that the the likes of Drilon and Pangilinan could not be accused of acting on any marching orders from Malacanang to delay the canvassing proceedings as they were adhering to the rules.
"They should speak up. But in fairness to them, while the opposition thought they were just delaying the canvassing, they bolted out of the Arroyo camp when the Garci issue came out," he said in a separate interview.
This, he said, was an indication that they were not privy to any efforts to rig the poll results.
"I think they were misled (by the administration)," he said, pointing out that public records would probably bear them out of the issue.
"The one that should explain is (Rep.) Gloria (Arroyo)," he said.
"But should we revive the investigation as far as '04 election is concerned? That should be treated differently although clearly the alleged perpetrators have since come out," Pimentel said, referring to some claiming to be employees of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) assigned in Maguindanao and tapped to supposedy tamper with the official results.
Sen. Francis Escudero has filed a joint resolution seeking congressional inquiry into the alleged cheating that took place during the said presidential elections and sought for the creation of a commission to undertake this particular task.
While supportive of the idea, Pimentel expressed belief that the "Hello Garci" scandal had already been overtaken by events, the reason why Garcilllano no longer wants to come out and testify.
With the claims being made by Bedol and Ampatuan, both criminal and political aspects can be pursued.
"I think that they should now act on more recent revelations, essentially the Ampatuan and bedol revelations, in addition to the Garci expose sequentially the Garcia revelations, or the new developments after the revelations (of the two former officials)," he said. 30-
The possible reopening of the investigation of the alleged massive manipulation during the presidential elections in 2004 when some top-ranking military officials were accused of involvement is best for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as an organization, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said.
He added there should be closure to the issue which continues to hound the 125,000-strong organization.
"It's best that it will push through so that we would know if indeed there was involvement or not. By then, we can already say there is closure," said Oban.
Oban vowed full military cooperation to the investigation of the alleged 2004 electoral fraud.
"Definitely, we will have to support that process, that legal process," said Oban.
"We'll just go on with the course of the political process. We'll support whatever will be required of us," he also said.
It will recalled that several top-ranking AFP officials were implicated in the 2004 electoral fraud, allegedly in favor of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo who won by slight margin against then opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr.
In the infamous "Hello Garci" recordings of conversations of then Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, the names of then AFP deputy chief of staff for operations (J3) Maj.
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., then Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, then Army 1st Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, and then Marine Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani were mentioned.
Based on the tapped recordings, Gudani did not allow manipulation at his jurisdiction, prompting his relief.
The alleged involvement of AFP officers in the electoral fraud was the subject of the probe of then AFP-Inspector General Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga. However, the Mayuga report was not released in full to the public.
Esperon went on to become Army chief and then AFP chief of staff, while Kyamko was appointed to a civilian post after his retirement.
The reopening of the investigation of the electoral fraud during the 2004 presidential elections cropped up recently following the revelations by detained Autonomous Region in Muslin Mindanao (ARMM)
Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan that there was cheating of the polls in Central Mindanao.
Ampatuan, who is imprisoned in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre of at least 57 civilians, said that former President Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo were involved in the electoral fraud.
The former ARMM governor expressed willingness to become state witness.
Long-time fugitive and former Comelec officer in Maguindanao province, Lintang Bedol, also surfaced, apparently to substantiate Ampatuan's claims.
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