Bedol tags 2 Comelec execs in alleged 2007 poll fraud

Former Maguindanao provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol has tagged two former Commission on Elections officials in the alleged poll irregularities in southern Philippines in May 2007. In his affidavit obtained by GMA News, Bedol said Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos and Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer authenticated Maguindanao election documents that were supposed to be spurious. According to Bedol, election returns, certificates of canvass, and statements of votes — kept at Maguindanao’s capitol — were “stolen" after the provincial board of canvassers tallied the votes. The documents were supposed to have been delivered to the Comelec headquarters in Manila for the national canvassing of votes. Comelec’s main office had created a new provincial board of canvassers for Maguindanao. Bedol said he “was not made part" of the new set of canvassers. The new canvassers counted anew the certificates of canvass for Maguindanao’s 22 municipalities, Bedol said, noting that Juan Miguel Zubiri emerged with the highest number of votes among the senatorial candidates. However, during the initial canvassing of Maguindanao’s votes, Chavit Singson garnered the highest number of votes among the senatorial candidates, according to Bedol. In a report by GMA News’ Pia Arcangel on “24 Oras," Ferrer said he never authenticated any election document. Abalos, on the other hand, said authorities should take his word with a grain of salt. “[W]e're dealing with somebody who [had] been hiding for four years and has been accused of infidelity in the custody of documents."
Further investigation Such a change of results, said Bedol, prodded him to investigate whether the ballots used in the canvassing of votes were fake. “I went to Municipality of Pagagawan and met with election assistant Ebrahim Abo. There, he showed me copies of unused official ballots. He pointed out to me that those official ballots — instead of the Municipality of Pagagawan to be indicated therein — contained the name Muntawal, which is the family name of the mayor of the place," he narrated. Bedol said he noticed that the official ballots have no watermarks, pointing out that the election material used in Pagagawan town “were actually spurious and fake." He added that he proceeded to Saudi Ampatuan town, and witnessed that unused official ballots carried the name “Saudi Uy Ampatuan" — instead of Saudi Ampatuan. Moreover, Bedol said he was told by Paglat town’s acting election officer Corazon Asuncion Reniedo that election returns in the area “[were] not carbonized." “In fact she said that the board of election inspectors had to use carbon paper of different colors to make them appear to be genuine election returns," he added. Bedol pointed out: “Thus, from my investigation, it was revealed to me that not only the official ballots but even the election returns that were earlier certified as authentic by [Ferrer] were actually fake and spurious." Arroyo’s request Bedol also recounted that he was ordered by ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — via former Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. — to ensure that Alan Peter Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, and Benigno Aquino III would “get zero votes." “I was surprised and worried because such is not doable under our system. [Ampatuan], however, said… I would understand and should just allow the things to happen in order for him to carry out the instruction of the [former] President," he said. Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s counsel, denied Bedol’s accusations against the former president. “Maliwanag naman na ito ay bahagi ng istorya [ng Malacañang] na kanilang pinag-usapan at itinahi," the lawyer said. Meanwhile, Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Bedol’s charges against Arroyo appeared to be weak. “Not very strong. That statement, kung iko-corroborate ni Ampatuan, lalakas ‘yun." Bedol stressed that he was “troubled" upon hearing the order “because one of the mentioned candidates, Lacson, was actually my family’s candidate and I know him to be a person of integrity and honesty." He warned other election officers about Arroyo’s order. “Some were worried … Others jokingly said that it is possible if the price is right," Bedol noted. Bedol even narrated that as election day drew nearer, “many people" were trying to set a lunch or dinner with him. His hunch was that these people would like to talk to me about “influencing the outcome" of the elections, he said. — PE/VS, GMA News