Cops submit to DOJ evidence of alleged 2004 poll fraud

UPDATED 11:50 a.m - Police Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago and four other policemen went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday morning to turn over more evidence on the alleged cover up of the massive cheating in the 2004 presidential polls. Santiago, Police Officer (PO) 2 Alan Layugan, PO2 Trifon Laxamana, PO1 Norman Duco, PO2 Rodel Tabangin submitted 34 election returns (ERs) that they claimed would prove there was an attempt to hide widespread cheating in Mindanao. All policemen are in active service. Santiago's group had earlier turned over to Justice Sec. Leila de Lima four stolen ERs. In sum, Santiago's group has been in possession of 38 election returns since the operation was carried out in January 2005. Speaking to reporters after a closed-door meeting with De Lima, Santiago said that he did not initially know the nature of the operation. It was only later that he discovered that what he and his team were doing was a cover-up for alleged irregularities in the 2004 poll results. "We would just like to make a point of clarification that we were not in any way a party to the scheme of cheating during the 2004 elections. We were just made to provide access and security to those who operated in order to cover up for their trail, or in order to jibe the tampered COCs [certificate of candidacies] that were made in Lanao with those with the authentic election returns deposited at the House of Representatives that we found out only later," said Santiago. He likewise apologized to Filipinos and to Susan Roces, wife of the late Fernando Poe Jr., Mrs. Arroyo's closest contender in the 2004 elections. Poe, who died in December 2004, has claimed Arroyo cheated him of victory. "We'd like to extend our apology to the Filipino nation, especially to Madame Susan Roces for the error. And at this point we are trying to rectify. We know that our lives are at risk here, our families. We know we are faciing powerful people but there will be no turning back. The truth shall set us free," said Santiago. Santiago said he decided to come forward because he has been assured that something can be done to correct an alleged wrongdoing. "Ngayon lang namin mararamdaman na mabibigyan ng parehas na laban, lalo na na naidulog namin sa DOJ ang aming problema na ito," he said. 'Special opearation' Santiago and his group said they were part of the 15 police Special Action Force (SAF) men that carried out the operation in January 2005. In the operation, the SAF men stole original election returns (ERs) and replaced them with fake ones so that Mrs. Arroyo will still emerge as the winner should there be a recount of votes cast in the 2004 elections. Santiago has claimed he and his team broke into the Batasan Pambansa building four times to conduct the operation. The ballot boxes containing the original ERs were stored at the House of Representatives office at that time. The stolen 6,000 ERs reflected votes from Mindanao and were the subject of an election protest filed by Poe, Mrs. Arroyo's closest rival in the May 2004 polls. But Poe died in December that year, prompting his wife, Susan Roces, to pursue the protest on his behalf. Mrs. Arroyo's camp supposedly wanted the original documents replaced by fake ones so that if a recount is conducted, Mrs. Arroyo will still have a 1.1 million lead over Poe. Sworn statements Santiago said he and his group would provide more details when they submit their sworn statements or affidavits on Tuesday next week. He likewise bared that he had been receiving death threats even before he decided to bare his knowledge of the alleged switching of original ERs with fake ones. "Maski po noong hindi pa po ako lumalantad, marami nang death threats sa akin. Even in your mind it's already death threats. Even while you're sleeping, you have death threats," said Santiago. He then requested those who have knowledge of the alleged 2004 poll fraud to come out. "Kami po ay nandito ngayon, nanawagan ako sa mga participant noon [na] if every they have participation, to be gentleman enough to accept their participation," said Santiago. Addressing the possible threats against Santiago and his men, De Lima said that the DOJ will provide the group with security. "I've been ofering protection, security to them becuase I know how sensitive, delicate and dangerous their situation is now. So the offer to secure them is there. We will evalute the sworn statements once these are submitted to us. The scenario of them turning state witness is there and that is something that is very strong because they can share with us what happened," said De Lima. Marching orders Santiago claimed that he and his team were acting on the orders of former PNP chief and now Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and then SAF director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco. Santiago also implicated Chief Insp. Ferdinand Ortega, who headed the SAF unit that augmented the security at the Batasan complex. The police colonel likewise said he saw the fake ERs being produced in Cainta, Rizal, at the house of poll lawyer Roque Bello, who was reputed to be an operator for election cheating. In Friday's press briefing, Santiago said he has no personal knowledge that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was the one who financed the operation. He added that the information was only relayed to him by "a certain personality." "I don't have any knoweldge, but we hear that from a certain person who later may be, through the efforts of the DOJ, established. But as far as my personal knowledge is concerned, I don't know anything about that," he said. When the alleged switching was carried out, Santiago was the head of the SAF's Intelligence Division at the Philippine National Police's National Capital Region Command. He was later moved to Zambales, where he served as police provincial director. Earlier this month, Santiago was relieved as Zambales police director and was transferred to the PNP's Directorate for Operations in Camp Crame, Quezon City. — VVP/LBG/MRT, GMA News