Former Sen. Zubiri faces Senate probe on alleged poll fraud

Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday faced the Senate inquiry into the alleged electoral fraud in 2004 and 2007 elections.

Zubiri was not invited at Tuesday’s hearing by the blue ribbon committee and committee on electoral reforms but Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Aquino III, who presided over the hearing, acknowledged him in the gallery of the session hall.

Pimentel, who won his election protest against Zubiri, later called him at the witness stand.

After taking his oath, Zubiri immediately denied any role in the electoral fraud allegedly committed in 2007 and protested the mention of his name by a witness in the Senate, Ahmad Mamucao, who claimed to help in the 2007 polls under Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan.

Mamucao claimed that a certain “Alex” who introduced himself as Zubiri’s relative helped him move some boxes, containing blank ballots, election returns and statement of votes.

But Zubiri denied having a cousin named “Alex.”

“I’d like to refute what was stated by Mamucao. Whatever he said was a complete lie,” said Zubiri, who resigned after losing in the protest case filed by Pimentel.

“Obviously, this is a demolition job against me,” the resigned senator added.