Film show on alleged 2004 poll fraud canceled due to technical problem

Due to technical problems, Senator Francis Escudero on Thursday failed to show to Senate media a video documentary on the alleged anomalies during the 2004 presidential elections. During Thursday's weekly forum at the Senate, Escudero was supposed to show a 50-minute video documentary produced three to four years ago by a group of defeated 2004 presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.'s supporters headed by Marichu 'Manay Ichu' Maceda. Escudero, who was Poe's spokesman during the 2004 elections, said the video contains alleged irregularities in the election materials. He also said that the video has an analysis of the taped conversation about alleged vote-rigging between a man presumed to be elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and a woman presumed to be former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The recorded phone conversation later became known as the “Hello Garci" controversy. Escudero said his group had already shown the documentary at some forums in the past. "Para lang for posterity, na-record namin ang mga pangyayari noon (This is for posterity, so that we'll be able to record what happened back then), he said. Escudero had filed a Joint Resolution No. 11 asking both chambers of Congress to create the fact-finding commission that would supposedly bring closure to allegations of massive poll fraud which allegedly benefited Arroyo. Last Wednesday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes, speaking as Poe's lawyer, said that the late actor was the real winner in the 2004 elections. — LBG, GMA News