Senator Franklin Drilon warned the electorate on Wednesday against selling their votes and accepting money or free transportation allowance, food and drinks “directly or indirectly”, saying it would “undermine the integrity of the election.”
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered the dismissal from the service of 13 rookie policemen in the Zamboanga Peninsula who were among the 386 recruits accused of cheating in their entrance exams to the police organization.
2004 election fraud whistle-blower Hadji Lacs Dalidig is dead. Abul Alibasa and Samira Gutoc Tomawis, Dalidig’s colleagues in the civil society group Reform ARMM Now, said Dalidig died yesterday noon.
Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other election officers involved in the 2004 massive elections could still be held liable, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Wednesday.
An official of the Commission on Elections denied taking part in the alleged irregularities during the 2004 polls.
The Senate began on Tuesday its investigation into the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections. The joint hearing by the blue ribbon committee and the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation headed by Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III began shortly after 9:00 a.m.
Former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera was dragged into the alleged massive cheating in 2004 by a witness in the Senate, saying she helped cover up the fraud.
Malacañang on Wednesday said they respected Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s decision to resign from his post, saying it could be a start of “healing the wounds of the past”.
The chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group denied on Wednesday reports that the CIDG was conducting surveillance on whistleblower Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago and his companions.
The Bureau of Immigration on Monday placed on its watch list former election officer Virgilio Garcillano.
Senator Loren Legarda has given up her ambition to become the second-highest official in the land but expressed willingness to help in reopening an investigation into allegations of massive cheating in 2004.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed that cheating marred an annual examination of public school students in Iloilo.
Malacañang could develop a profound sense of indebtedness to suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan if it falls for his supposed exposé on alleged poll fraud involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
