Palace not surprised with 2 new poll fraud witnesses

If Malacañang was impressed with the coming out of two witnesses to the alleged cheating in the 2007 elections, it did not show it. In fact, it even went as far as hinting that it was not surprised at what the two witnesses had revealed so far. “Hindi na po bago ito," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Tuesday, referring to the allegations of Lilian Radam and Yogie Martirizar that then-Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos ordered the rigging of the 2007 elections in some areas in Mindanao to favor the senatorial bets allied with then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “There have been talks, there have been stories that came out I think a few months after the event so siguro hintayin na lang ang magiging bunga talaga ang imbestigasyon," Valte added at the press briefing. Abalos has denied the allegation. [See video below.]

Radam and Martirizar, both former election supervisors in North and South Cotabato, respectively, were among the key witnesses by the joint Department of Justice-Comelec panel investigating allegations of fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima presented them to the media on Monday. Valte, however, refused to further comment on the testimonies of the two witnesses. She said Malacañang would just let the DOJ-Comelec panel conduct its joint investigation on the matter. “At this point, hihintayin na lang natin yung testimonya nila doon sa proceedings ng task force na ‘yun, and we will let the agencies evaluate the pieces of evidence that will be submitted by these two new witnesses," Valte said. Radam and Martirizar, who are now under the custody of the Witness Protection Program, said they directly received instructions from Abalos, who was supposedly acting on orders from Malacañang. They said the plan was to make it appear that the 12 senatorial bets of the Arroyo administration made a full 12-0 sweep in their respective areas. They also said that they were monitored by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). Asked if the new allegation will demoralize the military, Valte said the current Armed Forces leadership has committed to cooperating with any and all investigations that would involve those in active and retired service. “We are assured of the commitment of the AFP to come out with a very objective view on the matter," she said. — KBK, GMA News