NOY'S ANTI-CORRUPT A DIRECT 'SURGICAL ATTACK' VS GMA / RAPS FILED VS GMA
MANILA, OCTOBER 19, 2011 (STAR) By Christina Mendez - Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would like to pay a visit to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is recuperating from spine surgery.
"Bibisita sana ako para magbigay manlang simpatya, kawawa daw namamayat na ng husto. Hindi pa kami nagkita hagggang ngayon, dahil nabasa ko sa dyaryo, dalawa lang bisita sa isang araw (I want to pay her a visit to give my sympathies. I was told she is in a pitiful state and had lost so much weight. We have not seen each other up to now because I've read in the papers that she can receive only two visitors in a day)," Santiago said.
"She is a good friend and she is physically suffering and it is my Christian duty at the very least to pay her a visit," she added. The administration earlier announced that graft charges will be filed against Arroyo by next month.
Santiago, however, warned Arroyo's detractors to go easy on the Arroyo family until they have gathered enough evidence to pin them down in courts.
"If there is an impression that the administration is obsessed in going after the Arroyos, that they have targeted the Arroyo administration, (that is) a violation of the equal protection of the laws clause… That's already a violation of their own human rights and equal protection clause," Santiago said in a interview with radio dzBB.
She said the Aquino administration's supposed targeting of the Arroyo family in his anti-corruption drive is perceived as a "surgical strike." "Kung ang tao ang dami-dami niyang kaso na sunod sunod (If somebody has so many charges filed against him), this creates a suspicion in the public that they are being surgically targeted, na surgical strike na ito (That this is a surgical strike)," Santiago said. "There is a general fight versus corruption but there is a surgical strike against the Arroyo family, so this will have legal implications."
Another senator, who requested anonymity, said the administration has become too focused in going after the Arroyos. "This has become a one-issue government. It is to go after the Arroyos," the senator said.
Santiago noted that in the case of Mike Arroyo's alleged hand in the granting of P660-million loan to businessman and former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, the Senate has not found any evidence linking the former first gentleman to the loans. "Well that is subject to proof. Sinabi ng ating committee na wala silang natuklasan na evidensya (Our committee has said they have not found evidence)," Santiago said.
Poll fraud raps filed vs GMA By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) Updated October 18, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO - After years of protest and former Senator Miguel Zubiri's sudden resignation, the Senate Electoral Tribunal has proclaimed lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III (middle) as a duly-elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines last August 11, 2011 (Voltaire Domingo/NPPA Images)]
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III yesterday filed criminal charges against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and several others before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly rigging the senatorial elections in 2007.
The Arroyos, meanwhile, declined to give any comment on the charges, with the former first gentleman expressing disdain over the recent development.
Pimentel, who won his electoral protest and was proclaimed last August as 12th placer in the 2007 senatorial race, subscribed to his complaint-affidavit before the joint DOJ-Commission on Elections (Comelec) investigating panel.
He accused the former first couple of conspiring with other former officials – including Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos, commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, justice secretary Alberto Agra, presidential spokesman Gabriel Claudio and his executive assistant Bong Serrano, and regional poll director lawyer Michael Abas – in rigging poll results in Mindanao in favor of the former administration's senatorial bets.
He sought their indictment for electoral sabotage under Republic Act 9369 (Amended Automated Election Law).
"As far as I am concerned, I am a victim and it is my duty to file this complaint. After proving fraud in my protest, I said I will file a case against those responsible for making a non-winner declared a winner. So I am just doing what I've committed to do," the senator stressed.
Pimentel based his complaint on the testimonies of former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol, detained former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas and former provincial poll supervisors Lilian Radam and Yogie Martirizar.
He also cited as basis findings in his electoral protest that were upheld by the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
His complaint would undergo preliminary investigation by the joint DOJ-Comelec panel chaired by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had represented Pimentel in his election protest when she was still in private practice.
Mrs. Arroyo was earlier directly implicated by Unas in the alleged poll fraud operations.
Pimentel upheld the credibility of Unas and other witnesses, saying it was "not mere testimony. It is an eyewitness account and in criminal law, that should be given weight."
He did not include in the list of respondents the beneficiaries of the alleged fraud, including resigned Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, saying he needs more evidence against them.
Pimentel added that Radam and Martirizar, whom he had earlier charged with the same offense, could avail of remedies under the law since they have testified for the government already.
Witnesses have confessed to their participation in the alleged conspiracy to rig the 2007 polls and claimed that the orders came from Abalos and allegedly had the approval of the previous administration that even provided them security and legal and financial assistance.
Mike Arroyo: Why me?
Raul Lambino, legal spokesman for the Arroyos, said they will wait until they are able to secure a copy of the complaint.
"That's the only time we can probably give a comprehensive answer. We'd like to ask what evidence did Senator Koko use? Did he use as basis the testimonies of their various witnesses like the Ampatuans?" Lambino told The STAR.
The former first gentleman was aghast over the filing of the complaint.
"What in heaven's name have I to do with that? If somebody else is proclaimed, what has that got to do with me? Is that my fault?" he said in a telephone interview. "Pimentel is proving himself a worthy lapdog of Malacañang whose only purpose is to file baseless charges against the Arroyos."
He said the senator was also aiming for media mileage for his reelection bid in 2013.
"They are just filing cases for the sake of filing no matter how stupid the basis," Mr. Arroyo said.
The former president is scheduled to return to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City today for a crucial checkup to help her and her family decide whether or not she should seek medical treatment abroad for her weakening cervical spine or neck bones.
Senate probe on poll cheating
Meanwhile, the Senate starts today its probe into alleged fraud that took place in the 2004 and 2007 elections with 17 individuals who were either implicated or had a direct hand in the anomalies expected to attend.
Based on the guest list provided by the office of Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III, the first hearing would focus solely on the 2004 elections.
Two of the Comelec officials who were mentioned in the "Hello, Garci" controversy, Renault Macarambon and Rey Sumalipao, were among those invited.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines Col. Alexander Balutan, who along with retired Gen. Francisco Gudani first came out with allegations of electoral fraud operations in Marawi City during the 2004 presidential elections, was also invited to attend.
After coming out with their initial testimonies during a Senate hearing, both Gudani and Balutan were prevented from issuing any more statements regarding the alleged poll fraud.
A number of witnesses, who had first hand information or who took part in the alleged operations to rig the 2004 elections, are also expected to attend the hearing.
One of these is former Shari'a court judge Nagamura Moner, who recently came out and claimed that he handed out money to election officers and local officials in Mindanao to ensure the victory of former president Arroyo.
Moner claimed that it was former airport and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Alfonso Cusi who handed him the money purportedly coming from the former first gentleman.
He said that he was recruited for the job by his brother-in-law Efren Bollozos, who was then a manager of the PPA in Cagayan de Oro City.
He also claimed that former justice secretary Agnes Devanadera met with the election officials during a meeting of the Lakas party to coach them on how to cover up cheating.
All of the names mentioned were invited to today's hearing.
The other witnesses invited to the hearing were former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director Ansari Alonto who claimed that the election returns in Lanao del Sur were altered in favor of Arroyo; Manlawi Calimba, who was Moner's contact in General Santos City; and former T/Sgt. Vidal Doble of the Intelligence Service of the AFP, who was behind the wiretap operations on former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
The Senate probe was prompted by the resolutions filed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and will be jointly conducted by the Blue Ribbon and electoral reforms committee chaired by Pimentel. – With Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy
FROM THE TRIBUNE
Noy's Adviser used OPPAP funds for GMA poll fraud — witness By Angie M. Rosales 10/19/2011
President Aquino's adviser on peace process, Teresita "Ging" Deles (photo), had a direct hand in drumming up the candidacy of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo in the 2004 presidential polls in Mindanao, used her office and even dipped her fingers into government funds to finance the campaign of then candidate Arroyo during the 2004 presidential elections.
A witness bared this information at yesterday's Senate hearing on the alleged poll fraud in 2004 and 2007.
Deles was then Arroyo's peace adviser until she resigned along with the so-called "Hyatt 10" in 2005.
It will be recalled that Deles, along with the other Cabinet and sub-Cabinet members, called on Arroyo to resign due to allegations of poll rigging in mid 2005, even as it now turns out that Deles herself apparently had personal knowledge of the cheating as she appears to have been directly involved in it, yet she resigned only after the Hello Garci tapes went public.
She returned to her post when Aquino assumed office in 2010.
Deles' former subordinate, Datu Haj Ansari Alonto, implicated Deles in the alleged irregularities in the poll exercise in Mindanao seven years ago before Senate probers yesterday, the first day of investigation into the purported widespread election sabotage during the 2004 and 2007 elections.
Deles even employed the services of movie and television actor Robin Padilla to campaign for the presidential bid of Arroyo, Alonto said.
It will also be recalled that during the presidential campaign, then Arroyo's social service chief, now Aquino's DSWD Secretary, was reported to have used office funds to pay Nora Aunor a hefty sum for Aunor to campaign for Arroyo. A copy of the check coming from the DSWD in favor of Aunor, using her real name, was published by the Tribune during the campaign.
Senators Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel and Teofisto "TG" Guingona, who led the joint-panel probe, noted the observations made by Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero on the testimony of Alonto which could earn Deles an invitation before their committees to reply to these allegations.
Escudero was quick to raise before the committees on electoral reforms
and people's participation and the blue ribbon committee, the implication of the Deles' supposed participation the campaign of Arroyo.
"I'm not sure about consultants in your case but I'm sure about appointees of the President and of those elected officials not to campaign for any candidate in any election, otherwise that would be electioneering. Secondly, I'm curious also, were public funds used in connection with the things you did when you campaigned in Metro Manila and you went to Mindanao? Were there any OPAPP funds used?" Escudero asked, following Alonto's statements that he and Deles went around Metro Manila together with Padilla to help campaign for Arroyo before the Musim communities.
Alonto, who was then consultant of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) headed by Deles, the same position to which Aquino appointed her, answered in the affirmative, saying that his personal expenses such as transportation and accommodations in his trips to Mindanao were covered by the said office.
Guingona, blue ribbon committee chair, cited the possibility of Deles being called to their hearing based on the issues raised by Escudero.
Pimentel, who chairs the electoral reforms committee, also said the same although he pointed out that Deles could extricate herself from the mess being a presidential appointee.
"As a presidential appointee, she can be ordered to do that. But if indeed she used government funds, she can be held liable because she used government funds for political purposes," Pimentel said to reporters after the hearing.
Initially, Escudero inquired about the veracity of Alonto's claims in his sworn affidavit submitted before the two committees on his and Deles' participation in the campaign of Arroyo.
Escudero asked if it is prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code for a public officer, Secretary Deles included, to campaign actively for a Palace presidential bet.
Alonto replied that as Deles was his superior, he could not oppose her.
When asked by Escudero if OPPAP funds were used, Alonto said he was given some money for his travel expenses such as plane tickets, adding that he even kept copy of the tickets.
"I was given some money because I was not an "operator, I'm only observing the elections," Alonto said.
"So what Deles did then was provide you monetary resources basically for the campaign," Escudero commented.
"Yes for miscellaneous expenses," Alonto retorted.
Alonto, in an interview with reporters, revealed it was actually Deles' idea to make use of Padilla as the poster boy of Arroyo, mainly due to the actor being a crowd drawer and known to have converted his religious beliefs to Muslim faith.
Arroyo, he added, was actually "heckled" in Muslim rallies then in Metro Manila and in an effort to spare the Chief Executive then, they had Padilla campaign in her behalf.
When asked if government funds were tapped for such activities, Alonto gave this reply: "Of course (because) Deles provided the logistics."
In his sworn statement submitted to the Senate committees, Alonto said he was a "witness to the cheating in the 2004 elections."
"Before the May 10, 2004 elections, our group comprising OPPAP Secretary Deles, Padilla and I were conducting campaign sorties with the Muslim groups to drum up support for the GMA candidacy because (the late) FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) was very strong in the area.
"Then OPPAP Secretary Deles allowed me to go to Mindanao upon my request, about a few days after the election during the canvassing. I stayed at the MSU (Mindanao State University) Ayala Resort Hotel (Marawi City) where I met then Provincial Administrator Mamintal "Bombit" adiong Jr., who is now Lanao del Sur governor.
"Bombit told me he has collected all election returns (Ers) including copies for the opposition brought by Ismael Tomawis (brother of Rep. Acmad Tomawas, chair of FPJ's party in Lanao del Sur). He told me he bought the genuine ERs for P2,000 per ER and directly burned them, so there were no more genuine Ers left. He replaced them with 'manufactured' returns already prepared. Although this is hearsay, I am willing to swear by the Holy Qu'ran that he told me this," Alonto said in his two-page affidavit.
During his stay in Mindanao during the canvassing period, Alonto testified before Senate probers being a supposed witness to the alleged rigging of the results by then Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial board canvasser Ray Sumalipao.
"They were only canvassing the votes for the local elections but not the national candidates because they said they are going to discuss it later on. The members of the oppositioon could not enter and the Philippine Marines were blocking their way. They were armed both inside and outside," he said.
All other representatives of the political opposition remained outside of the premises where canvassing was being held.
Alonto said he managed to gain entry, having been informed of the alleged "tightly-guarded" premises by identifying himself to the Marines as "director" of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea), a position he also held at that time.
Heated exchanges then ensued before Senate probers between Sumalipao and Alonto with the former even swearing before the Qu'ran the falsehood of the allegations of the latter.
"I'm stating that for the provincial board of canvassers because I am competent, I was the chairman then," Sumalipao said as he vehemently denied the charges against him, the same allegations previously hurled at him during the Senate's investigation of so-called "Hello Garci" scandal in 2005.
Guingona then intervened, telling off the two to bring their verbal exchanges to the Senate parking lot instead.
In the same hearing, former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol testified for the first time his role in manipulating the results in the province and linked Arroyo in the massive poll fraud operations.
Bedol is currently detained and serving penalty for an indirect contempt, having failed to respond to the several summonses the Comelec issued him to shed light to the alleged irregularities in Maguindanao during the 2007 elections.
Asked by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who had issued the order in rigging the results of the senatorial polls in 2007, Bedol initially claimed he "got the information from the governor then."
"That was the instruction to him, to give Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson, (then senatorial candidates Alan Peter) Cayetano and PNoy (Noynoy) Aquino zero votes," Bedol said.
Although Bedol failed to identify the governor, it was apparent that he was referring to then Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. whom he previously mentioned in a television interview as the one who issued him the instruction – that Arroyo wanted the three opposition candidates to get zero vote in the province, supposedly.
When asked who gave the order to the governor, Bedol claimed it was then President Arroyo who did and not the First Gentlema.
"So what do they want you to do? They wanted you to replace or change the results?" the minority leader asked.
"If they have votes in any of the municipality, (it was) to change the vote. If there was none, then maintain it," Bedol said, adding that he complied with the "instruction."
Bedol then explained that tampering were carried out in the municipal level or before the municipal certificate of canvass enter the provincial board of canvassers, they would erase the entries.
"It was very manifest that it was erased. It was very clear that it was erased. But there were attached thereto that these people were also voted and because of that, I canvassed the same for zero although it was clear that it was erased," he said.
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