FPJ daughter Grace Poe wants new probe of '04 polls

Nearly seven years after the “Hello Garci" controversy cast doubts on the results of the 2004 presidential elections, the family of Fernando Poe Jr. still wants the allegations of cheating and fraud investigated, even if the results would be futile. Poe passed away in late 2004. For Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Poe’s daughter and current Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chair, the point is not just to prove her father’s win but to set a precedent for future electoral anomalies. In a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras" newscast, Poe-Llamanzares said it would still be important to penalize those who are guilty of the alleged cheating. “Hopefully, this is the way by which we can usher in a fair and honest investigation into the matter," she said. Public interest in the alleged fraud in 2004 was revived after former Maguindanao elections supervisor Lintang Bedol, who is accused of rigging the 2007 senatorial elections in favor of Gloria Arroyo allies, was turned over to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Tuesday. While Bedol has not yet said anything on the alleged 2004 election fraud, Poe-Llamanzares wants him to shed light on what really happened seven years ago.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV In another report from GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation," Poe-Llamanzares said she wants former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to pay for her role in the controversies surrounding the 2004 elections. “Gusto ko talaga magkaroon ng hustisya at sana makulong [ang involved]… Maparusahan lang ang mga nangingibabaw diyan, malaking mensahe na ‘yan para sa ating mga kababayan," she said. Asterisk for Gloria Arroyo Even if Bedol admits to cheating in the 2004 elections, Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes said the current Comelec will not be able to annul the proclamations made. Brillantes added that the term has already elapsed and results would prove moot since the aggrieved, Poe, has already passed away. “It’s just a matter of determining kung sino talaga ang nanalo for historical [purposes] or for prosperity," he said.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Poe-Llamanzares acknowledged this in the report, saying, “Para sa akin actually, magkaroon lang ng footnote, ng asterisk sa mga nilalathalang history books na ‘okay, [si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] ang umupong Pangulo pero asterisk, siya ay nahatulan for fraud and cheating.’" The Poe family will not submit a complaint but will instead support those that do, said the report. “Bilang leksyon sa ating mga kababayan, dapat siguro pagbayaran nila ang kanilang mga kasalanan. Kung hindi, magiging masamang ehemplo ito sa kinabukasan at hindi tayo seseryosohin nino man at mauulit pa ito," Poe-Llamanzares added. GMA lawyer: Just politics Arroyo’s camp continues to deny any involvement in the alleged cheating. “Normal lamang siguro na reaction ‘yan ng mga [nag-aakalang] sila ay na-agrabyado ng nakaraang labanan sa pulitika… We’ll just leave it at that," said Atty. Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s legal counsel. Her camp has also said it will not be attending any hearings by the Senate or House of Representatives. They also alleged that Bedol’s surrender is a ploy by the current administration and that Bedol forged an agreement with the current administration to reduce his prison time. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has since denied that taking custody of Bedol was “coddling." Senator Francis Escudero, who was the former spokesperson of Poe, filed a joint resolution to ask both the Senate and House of Representatives to create a fact-finding commission to investigate the issue. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering ordering the Immigration Bureau to place Arroyo on its watch list to keep her from leaving the country as she faces various charges filed against her. — With Bea Cupin/PE/VS/HS, GMA News