Loren Legarda has forgiven, stops aiming for vice presidency

MANILA, Philippines—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.

“I would like to make it clear that I no longer aspire for a higher position than the Senate. This is not positioning or politicking. I would just like to serve as senator,” Legarda said in Filipino when she faced the media on Monday.

“But I’m doing this because it is my duty to help correct history. As a victim of fraud of 2004, actually the only victim alive, it’s my duty to help right a historical wrong,” she said.

Legarda, who ran with the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., or FPJ, said she is ready to submit her evidence to the Department of Justice to prove massive cheating during the 2004 elections.

The senator became emotional, though, when she recalled how the national board of canvassers, then headed by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, rejected her only request to open a single election return to prove her cheating allegations.

“Naalala ko dahil si FPJ naman ang ayaw pumunta sa canvassing, ako’y nagsalita…maaari bang buksan ang kaisa isang ER? Hindi kami pinayagan. Ang sinagot sa akin, ‘Noted.’ At sinara ang aking mikropono (I remember FPJ didn’t like to go to the canvassing, so I spoke up and requested if they could open just one ER. They did not accede to my request. The reply I got was, ‘Noted.’ And my microphone was turned off),” a tearful Legarda said.

“Pero wala akong sinisisi. Wala akong sama ng loob maski kanino. Lahat sila ay pinatawad ko na, kinaibigan ko na, kinakausap ko na. Wala akong sinisi at wala akong sama ng loob (But I don’t blame anyone. I don’t harbor any grudge against anyone. I have forgiven, befriended them all… I talk to them now. I didn’t blame anyone and I don’t have bitter feelings),” she added.