Ex-Maguindanao exec links Arroyo to 2007 'poll fraud'

(UPDATED 8:55 p.m.) A former Maguindanao official closely identified with the powerful Ampatuan clan has accused then-President Gloria Arroyo of ordering Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. to ensure the victory of administration senatorial bets in the province in the 2007 elections. On Monday, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. presented former Maguidnanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who served with the Ampatuans from 2001 to 2009. Unas likewise served as Andal Sr.'s close adviser and spokesman. Andal Sr. and his three sons, Andal Jr., Zaldy, and Akhmad, are implicated in the infamous Nov. 2009 massacre of 57 people in the province. A witness in the crime, Lakmudin Saliao, has told the Quezon City court hearing the massacre case that Unas was present at Andal Sr.'s mansion when the clan plotted the mass killings. In his affidavit, Unas recalled that at a dinner meeting at Malacañang days before the May 2007 elections, he heard Mrs. Arroyo instruct Andal Sr. to make her administration bets win senatorial seats, at least in Maguindanao. He also said that then-First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo also gave instructions to rig the polls. Mike Arroyo: Why should we cheat? Mr. Arroyo, in a statement, denied that he and his wife had any involvement in the alleged cheating.’ “Why should we order cheating? What will we get out of it? It defies both common sense and logic," he said. He also criticized the Aquino administration for its supposed lack of impartiality and fair play as he dismissed Unas’ testimonies as “libel and defamation." “If evidence and due process are no longer necessary under this current administration…, then what kind of justice can we expect?" he said. Arroyo's legal spokesperson, Raul Lambino, accused the Aquino administration of using the poll fraud issue to mask its alleged inefficiency in dealing with the victims of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in northern and Central Luzon. "Ito ay isang uri ng orkestrasyon ng administrasyong Aquino para naman mapagtakpan yung kanilang pagkukulang sa mga biktima ng kalamidad," Lambino said in a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" Monday night.
Massive cheating? Unas said he approached Brillantes to share what he allegedly knows about how the Arroyo administration's 12 senatorial bets made a full 12-0 sweep in the 2007 elections. Although he claims to be afraid about what might happen to him because of his revelations, Unas said he wanted to be an instrument in correcting the alleged massive cheating that occurred in his province in 2007. "I'd like to take this opportunity again that my coming out would pave the way, would trigger some serious efforts from the commission and the government to institute some reforms needed on the election process, not only in Maguindanao but also in other areas," said Unas. Unas will testify as a witness in the joint DOJ-Comelec inquiry into allegations of fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections. De Lima said Unas is applying for coverage under the DOJ's Witness Protection Program. Unas' affidavit Unas alleged that Mrs. Arroyo wanted her 12 senatorial bets to win in Maguindanao even if it entails manipulation of the results. "When the President was about to exit from the hall as she was shaking hands with several participants, the President signaled Datu Andal to a corner," Unas said. "I heard the President told again Datu Andal: 'Dapat 12-0 sa Maguindanao, kahit pa ayusin o palitan niyo ang resulta,' which the governor answered, 'Opo Ma'am,'" Unas added. Unas alleged that Andal Sr. even bragged during the meeting that "Maguindanao was an extension of Pampanga," which is Mrs. Arroyo's home province. In his affidavit, Unas also said that Andal Sr. told him that then-First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo also gave the "12-0" order and that a certain "Cayetano" should receive zero votes. Mr. Arroyo, however, has also repeatedly denied having been involved in poll fraud. 12-0 sweep Unas also said Andal Sr. was committed in delivering a 12-0 sweep for the Team Unity senatorial bets and allegedly enlisted the help of then Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol, who is also set to testify on alleged cheating in the 2007 polls. "I thought the governor was not serious with his commitment, but when we returned to Maguindanao, Gov. Andal immediately called Provincial Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol and myself to a meeting," Unas said. "During that meeting, Gov. Datu Andal reiterated the instruction for 12-0 coming from the President [and] FG Mike Arroyo and that he was counting on PES Bedol to ensure that the instruction could be followed," Unas added. He added that he was assigned to provide logistical support to Bedol, who was in turn assigned to coordinate with the election officers (EOs) of Maguindanao's 22 municipalities. Unas then said the election officers from Maguindanao towns supported and carried out the "12-0" plan, "because of our great fear and respect for him and his children, including ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, and his other children." "Nobody wanted to frustrate the desires of the governor because he was a sure winner and nobody wanted to fall out of the good graces of the governor," said Unas. Only province with 12-0 victory As it turned out, Maguindanao was the only province where all 12 senatorial bets from the Arroyo administration's Team Unity won. "As a result of these manipulations of election resutls with the connivance and participation of several personalities and Comelec officials, the results of election for senatoral candidates reflected by Order of Pres. GMA and FG Mike Arroyo; that is, "12-0" Team Unity victory in Maguindanao," said Unas. Team Unity senatorial bets have not all won in the national canvassing of votes but the alleged election cheating supposedly benefited Juan Miguel Zubiri, who was declared the winner of the 12th Senate seat in 2007. In August this year, citing his desire to spend more time with his family, Zubiri relinquished his Senate seat. Weeks later, the Senate Electoral Tribunal declared Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III as the rightful winner of the 12th Senate slot. 15 Maguindanao poll officers Also on Monday, De Lima and Brillantes presented 15 of 22 election officers who were assigned to Maguindanao's 22 towns in the 2007 elections.

Saliao Amba (Mamasapano town),

Maria Susan Albano (Datu Unsay town),

Nena Alid (Talayan),

Alice Lim (Pagagawan),

Susan Cabanban (General S.K. Pendatun),

Magsaysay Mohamad (Sultan sa Barongis),

Araw Cao (Mangudadatu),

Estellita Orbaso (Shariff Aguak),

Jeehan Nur (Ampatuan),

Salonga Edzela (Maguindanao),

Ragah Ayunan (Rajah Buayan),

Russam Mabang (Pandag),

Asuncion Reniedo (Paglat),

Rohaida Khalid (Datu Saudi), and

Norijean Hangkal (Guindulungan). Brillantes said that the 15 municipal poll officers, two of whom are already retired, will testify they helped carry out election fraud in the province to ensure a "12-0" victory for Team Unity senatorial candidates. Maguindanao massacre The Ampatuans are perceived to be close allies of Mrs. Arroyo, who allegedly turned a blind eye on the violence and corruption perpetrated in Maguindanao because of the political favors she received from the clan. The favors allegedly include the "12-0" victory delivered for her administration's senatorial bets in 2007. On November 23, 2009, the Ampatuans allegedy staged the worst incidence of political violence in Philippine history. Fifty-seven people, 32 of whom were journalists, were killed in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. Andal Ampatuan Sr., his sons Zaldy and Andal Jr., and other relatives and paramilitary units are among the nearly 200 people accused in the Maguindanao massacre case. They have denied having a hand in the massacre. — with Andreo C. Calonzo/RSJ/VVP/KBK, GMA News