Palace wants to know who really won in 2004, 2007 elections, says Aquino aide

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is keen on finding the truth about allegations of fraud during the 2004 and 2007 elections.

“Certainly, the truth should come out… as to who really won in 2004 and in 2007,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda replied when asked at a news briefing in Malacañang if the administration was keen on establishing the real winner of the 2004 presidential elections.

“Of course, we should know because when you cheat in the elections you rob the people of their mandate,” he added.

Interest in the results of the 2004 elections again came to fore after former Maguindanao election officer Lintang Bedol came out of hiding and alleged that then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo caused fraud to be committed both in the 2004 presidential election and in the mid-term polls in 2007.

The family of Arroyo’s closest rival in 2004, Fernando Poe, Jr., has expressed support for a new investigation into alleged electoral fraud even if only to correct history in the event Poe really won.

Poe had a pending election protest against Arroyo when he died.

Lacierda said the Palace would also welcome any move by former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to emulate erstwhile Arroyo allies Zaldy Ampatuan and Lintang Bedol by shedding light on allegations of fraud in the 2004 presidential elections.

“We are open to what he can say,” Lacierda said.

As in the case of Ampatuan and Bedol’s statements, however, Lacierda said Garcillano’s testimony on the election fraud would be studied and assessed.

Garcillano was investigated by Congress in 2005 for allegedly receiving phone calls from then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the counting of the votes cast in the 2004 presidential elections.