Binay denies poll fraud, vows to unmask ‘Koala Bear’

Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, the frontrunner in the vice presidential race, on Saturday said his camp is set to unmask the whistleblower who claimed that fraud was committed during the conduct of the first nationwide automated elections last May 10. In an interview aired over GMA Network’s “24 Oras," Binay said he was concerned by the accusation of “Koala Bear" — the moniker given to the masked whistleblower — that he spent P1.4 billion to have the votes of his rivals shaved during the canvassing of the votes. “Let me confirm that I am concerned. We have been validating data that we have been receiving regarding him [the whistleblower]," said Binay, who ran under the Joseph Estrada-led Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) banner. Binay a “consolidator"? In a video played during a forum sponsored by the Catholic Media Network (CMN) last Tuesday, “Koala Bear," who introduced himself as “Robin," said he was among those who allegedly rigged the elections. He accused Binay of being the “consolidator" of poll fraud in four areas in the country.

Binay denied this, saying it is not in his character to cheat only to win. He, however, refused to comment on who he thinks were behind the plan to link him to electoral fraud. “If it turns out to be a hard fact, tsaka magko-comment ako (that’s the time I will make a comment)," he said. The controversial video was provided by Manila Times columnist Buddy Cunanan, who said the video was given to one of his colleagues in an informal citizens’ group closely monitoring the elections. Sore losers? The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said “Koala Bear" could be a defeated presidential candidate who’s griping about the outcome of the elections. Losing presidential candidates Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and JC delos Reyes, who have yet to concede defeat to frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, have been openly questioning the results of the elections. Madrigal, Perlas and Delos Reyes were all present during the CMN-sponsored forum. Makati Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr., who first used the moniker “Koala Bear" in referring to the masked whistleblower, sees Malacañang’s hand in what he described as “a gimmick." Both of the administration’s bets for president and vice-president — Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Eduardo “Edu" Manzano — didn’t fare well in the recently concluded elections judging from the unofficial tally by the Comelec. The House committee on electoral reforms and suffrage, which is under Locsin, is in the thick of its investigation on the alleged fraud during the May 10 polls. - KBK, GMANews.TV