Namfrel provincial exec files affidavit on 2004 poll cheating

MANILA, Philippines—The provincial chair of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections in Lanao del Sur went to the Commission on Elections Thursday to formally file a complaint about cheating  during the 2004 presidential election.

Abdullah Daligdig personally submitted his affidavit to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., who was the counsel of the presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. and his running mate Senator Loren Legarda in 2004.  Brillantes said the affidavit will be turned over to the joint Comelec-Department of Justice committee that will investigate anomalies in the 2004 polls.

Daligdig said the affidavit he submitted was the same one he presented to the Senate when it conducted hearings on the “Hello, Garci” scandal.  He claimed the proclaimed winner, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, gained as much as 200,000 votes through a “dagdag-bawas” (vote adding-vote shaving) operation conducted in the province.

“Poe did not get zero votes.  The truth should prevail.  This will show that the past President (Arroyo) is maybe a fake president,” he said.

Daligdig was a witness of Legarda in her election protest against the proclaimed Vice President Noli de Castro.