Solons: Probe ex-House leaders on breach of security over poll results

Previous House leaders should be investigated for possible culpability over the reported breach of security at the Batasang Pambansa compound in Quezon City, where the alleged switching of original election returns (ERs) of the 2004 polls with fake ones took place, lawmakers said Thursday. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said lawmakers should look into a possible “cover up" by previous House leaders regarding the mess. “This was a direct assault on the House and has grave implications on the integrity of Philippine elections in general... We should investigate even the previous House leadership for allowing this to happen and covering up the crime," he said in a text message on Thursday. Casiño added that he will make a motion on the House floor on Monday to urge his colleagues to immediately probe the breach of security. Former Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. was the House Speaker when the reported switching of ERs took place between January and February in 2005. GMA News Online is still trying to reach him for reaction as of posting time. Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago revealed in a newspaper report on Thursday that he and his men stole election paraphernalia from the Batasan compound in 2005 to ensure the victory of then administration presidential candidate Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. De Venecia was aligned with Arroyo before they had a falling out in 2008 after his son linked former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the multi-million-peso scandal involving a botched broadband project deal between the government and Chinese firm ZTE Corp. Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada meanwhile said lawmakers should find out if the former House Speaker gave orders to relax security at the Batasang Pambansa compound to enable the switching of ERs. “The switching of ERs should be a matter of concern of the House because it was with the complicity of the Philippine National Police unit tasked to secure the compound. The House should ask the question: who is the PNP unit guarding the House loyal to? Is it the chief PNP or DILG [Department of Interior and Local government]? Or is it to the Speaker of the House?" he said in a text message. Punish perpetrators For their part, other lawmakers said Congress should immediately investigate the matter so that people behind the manipulation of votes will be punished. “The perpetrators should be tried and punished to serve as a deterrent to similarly minded individuals who trifle and pervert one of the most cherished right of a democratic society—the right to vote," AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said in a separate text message. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares meanwhile said a House probe is important to make sure there will be “legislative intervention to eliminate electoral fraud. “The House should immediately probe the ER switching considering that it happened inside its own premises. We are the only body tasked with canvassing presidential election results and therefore have the obligation to investigate fraud in our canvassing," he said. Colmenares and Casiño filed a resolution earlier this month directing the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms to conduct an inquiry into the alleged poll fraud in 2004 and 2007. The Department of Justice and the Commission on Elections are also set to conduct a joint probe to determine criminal liability in these alleged incidents of manipulation of election results. — LBG, GMA News