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PNP to provide security to cop in poll fraud exposé


The Philippine National Police (PNP) will provide security to the police officer who exposed the supposed switching of election returns (ERs) to ensure the victory of then administration presidential bet Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the 2004 polls. “[Senior Superintendent Rafael] Santiago has signified intention to be placed under protective custody because of perceived threats on his life as a result of his exposé," Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesperson, said in a statement Thursday. He however added that the PNP’s involvement in the issue will be limited to providing Santiago with security, since the police officer came out with the statements on his own volition. “The PNP will remain guided by orders from duly constituted authority on further actions regarding concerned police personnel involved in the controversy," he said. Santiago revealed in a newspaper report on Thursday that he and his men stole election paraphernalia from the Batasan compound in 2005 and replaced original ERs with fake ones to make sure that Arroyo beats the late Fernando Poe Jr. should there be a recount of the results of the 2004 national polls. The police official was a member of the police Special Action Force and then chief of the Intelligence Division of the Philippine National Police’s National Capital Region command. On Thursday, Justice chief Leila de Lima further quoted Santiago as saying that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo funded their operation to rig the poll results. The Arroyo camp, through legal spokesperson Raul Lambino, dismissed Santiago’s allegations as old news meant to advance the political agenda of some personalities. — LBG, GMA News

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