Perlas, Jamby, JC unite to question ‘poll irregularities’

Three laggards in the presidential race on Thursday joined forces in questioning the results of the country’s first nationwide automated elections. The three — independent candidates Nicanor Perlas and Sen. Jamby Madrigal, and Ang Kapatiran’s JC de los Reyes — said irregularities in the elections are the reason why they have yet to concede to front-runner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III. “We are making this stand so that Filipino people will not be rushed into thinking automated elections are a success," said Madrigal. “Let us be pro-active, not for us, but for future generations." Madrigal particularly expressed concern about the compact flash (CF) cards in the election machines that were reconfigured at the last minute on the eve of the May 10 elections. “How sure are we that the replaced CF cards have not been programmed to favor a candidate," she said, adding that she, Perlas and De los Reyes would soon present their technical findings. As of 4:27 p.m. Thursday, GMA Network’s partial and unofficial tally showed Madrigal with 41,906 votes, Perlas with 48,678, and De los Reyes with 39,853. The combined votes of the three candidates were even less than disqualified bet Vetellano Acosta's 162,842. For his part, Perlas said he, Madrigal, and De los Reyes would come out with a website to gather proof of poll discrepancies. Perlas and Madrigal had not conceded yet to Aquino, who has so far received more than 13 million votes. De los Reyes, on the other hand, had withdrawn his admission of defeat following what he said were reports of irregularities. Madrigal, however, clarified that they were not claiming that they were cheated in the elections. —Sophia Regina Dedace/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV