Cop submits affidavit on 2004 'poll fraud cover up'

Police Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday his sworn affidavit detailing his supposed knowledge on the alleged cover-up of widespread cheating in the 2004 presidential elections. In his 12-page affidavit, Santiago said former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and incumbent Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. gave him orders to carry out an operation at the Batasan Pambansa in 2005. The operation allegedly turned out to be the switching of original Election Returns (ERs) with fabricated ones so that in case of a recount, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would still emerge as the victor and retain her 1.1-million lead over her closest contender, Fernando Poe Jr. The supposed ER-switching was conducted so that if actress Susan Roces requests for a recount or pursue the election protest of her husband, who died in December 2004, Arroyo would still emerge as the winner. In his affidavit, Santiago said on the second week of January 2005, he met with Ebdane at the Figaro coffee shop at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Ebdane has repeatedly denied giving orders to pilfer ERs stored at the Batasan Pambansa. Santiago said his boss, then police Special Action Force (SAF) director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco was also at the meeting at Figaro. Santiago added that Ebdane told him that a certain "El Bello" and a certain "Arnold" will be his counterparts in the operation. "It was during the said meeting that I started to learn some of the details of the impending special operations the SAF DIRECTOR has been telling me all along earlier. Gen. Ebdane being familiar with me, having been together in PC SAF during the December 1989 failed coup, introduced me to my supposed counterparts in the operation which I clearly recall as one 'El Bello' and a certain 'Arnold,'" said Santiago. El Bello is believed to be Roel Bello, son of election lawyer Roque Bello. Both are reputed to be election operators. Santiago added that Ebdane directed him to coordinate with El Bello's group for the implementation of the operation before the end of the month. "The meeting did not last long since no further details about the operation were taken up except for the instruction from Gen. Ebdane for the group of Mr. El Bello to immediately coordinate with the group of SAF and implement the special operations not later than the last week of January 2005 as agreed upon between him and the father of Mr. El Bello," said the police colonel. After the meeting, El Bello told Santiago that the SAF men should give them assistance to access and enter the Batasan Pambansa building, where the ERs used in the 2004 elections are being stored. "We were told by Mr. El Bello that their requirement was for SAF to provide access and security for their group to be able to enter the Batasang Pambansa Complex and penetrate the enclosed and secured area at the lobby of the south wing building situated inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex which was just nearby our meeting place," said Santiago. "Accordingly, the said enclosed and secured area was constructed purposely to be used as temporary storage room for the ballot boxes used during the last May 2004 Elections that were forwarded to the Congress," he added. - VVP, GMA News