Former justice secretary Devanadera helped cover up poll fraud, says witness

Former Justice Sceretary Agnes Devanadera. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera was dragged into the alleged massive cheating in 2004 by a witness in the Senate, saying she helped cover up the fraud.

Ex-Sharia Court Judge Nagamura Moner said it was Devanadera, who briefed the people from Mindanao to say in a press conference in Manila that no cheating occurred in the 2004 polls.

“They were briefed by Agnes Devanadera to say that there’s [no cheating],” Moner told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday.
Moner said he was told that Devanadera was undersecretary of the Department of Justice’s legal affairs at that time. Devanadera was appointed Justice Secretary during the time of then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“She [Devanadera] briefed these 12 people. She briefed them how to answer questions by the media,” said the former judge.
Moner said Devanadera brought the people at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office in the House of Representatives during the canvassing where the press conference was held.

“Agnes Devanadera was directing the presscon. She was coaching how to answer,” he said.

Moner said Devanadera was coaching those people “to cover up” the cheating.