Deles used gov’t funds to campaign for Arroyo in 2004

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino’s adviser on peace process, Teresita Deles, had allegedly used her office to campaign for former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 presidential election, a witness revealed during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

Deles was also Arroyo’s peace adviser until she resigned along with the so-called “Hyatt 10” in 2005. She returned to her post when Aquino assumed office in 2010.

As consultant of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPPAP), Ansari Alonto said he and Deles went around Metro Manila to campaign for Arroyo.

Alonto was also a director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and a member of the Mindanao State University Board of Regents.

“Before the election, starting May 7 to May 10 we went around Metro Manila campaigning for GMA (Arroyo’s initials) because GMA was at the losing end. FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) was very strong in the Muslim areas and that’s why we had to engage the services, help of Robing Padilla,”Alonto told the joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee and the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

“We went around all mosques here in Metro Manila with Robin Padilla. We were accompanied by Secretary Ging Deles and still the result of the elections in Metro Manila, majority votes of the Muslims here in Metro Manila went to FPJ,” he said.

Senator Francis Escudero then asked if there were OPPAP funds used to campaign for Arroyo, Alonto answered, “Oo binigyan n’ya (Deles) ako ng konting panggastos. Kasi hindi naman ako ang operator, I’ m only observing the election.”

“So ang ginawa ni Secretary Deles, binigyan kayo ng perang pangampanya?” asked Escudero.

“Opo mga miscellaneous,” said Alonto.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Alonto said it was him who suggested to Deles to get the services of actor Robin Padilla to match the popularity of FPJ.

“Because ‘yong mga tao, FPJ ang isinisiaw so what we need is someone na parang actor din so kinuha namin si Robin Padilla,” he said.

“She (Deles) provided me the logistic,” Alonto added though he could not give an estimate how much funds of the OPPAP had been spent for Arroyo’s campaign.