Cops in poll results switching being harassed, says De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—An aide to Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has been “harassing” former subordinates of Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago to purportedly force them to press charges against the police official, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday.

According to De Lima, Santiago’s lawyer told her that one Chief Insp. Rogelio Peniones had been approaching Santiago’s men to compel them to sign documents “about certain trumped up charges against” him.

“We’re asking for more particulars about the alleged harassment and we’re coordinating with (Interior) Secretary Jesse Robredo,” De Lima told reporters. “If we’re able to validate those alleged acts of harassment, then (Robredo) has to act on them appropriately. It’s up to him to provide the needed measures on that reported harassment.”

Santiago, along with four other policemen, met with Inquirer editors and reporters last week and disclosed that he and his men were ordered by then Philippine National Police Special Action Force director Chief Supt. Mercelino Franco to steal some 6,000 election returns from the House of Representatives in 2005.

He claimed it was Ebdane, then the PNP chief, who directed Franco to carry out the “special operations” purportedly to ensure the victory of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the 2004 elections.