Opposition wary of new Comelec officials

San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito-Estrada yesterday expressed his concern on the appointment of two new commissioners of the Commission on Election amid reports of an alleged operation plan of Malacanang to just let two candidates of the opposition to win in the coming election.

Estrada said the appointment of election lawyer Bernadette Sardillo and former ambassador and Lanao del Norte Rep. Macabangkit Lanto to the Comelec worries the opposition especially following reports that one of them was allegedly involved in election fraud in the past.

Estrada said he learned through a TV report that Lanto was unseated because of electoral fraud. The congressman and son of former president Joseph Estrada who is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) was referring to an ABS-CBN report that Lanto was unseated as congressman in 1994 by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

Estrada said he was alarmed because a reliable source told him a few months ago that there’s a so-called plan of Malacanang to ensure a 12-0 win in the coming election. Since that outcome would be unbelievable to achieve, the plan was changed to just let two opposition candidates – he and Nancy Binay- win.

Estrada said the information was relayed just before the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey was released, which showed that only three of the UNA candidates — he, Binay and and former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri –were in the magic 12

But he refused to categorically accuse Malacañang of plotting to cheat in the coming election.

“Syempre magdududa po kami. I hope not, I’m not saying na merong dayaan pero iyong integrity lang”, Estrada explained.

He explained that Lanto’s appointment could not help improve the integrity of the Comelec, especially that President Aquino had also appointed another politician, former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, a member of the Liberal Party./Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan