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Brillantes calls on Pichay to corroborate Unas' claim


Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. has called on ex-Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chair Prospero Pichay to corrobate the claim of former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas, who tagged former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the alleged cheating during the 2007 polls. In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Brillantes said Unas had mentioned that Pichay was in Malacañang when Mrs. Arroyo allegedly ordered Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. to ensure the victory of administration senatorial bets in the province in the 2007 elections. "Ang natatandaan ko lang sinabi niya (Unas) si Pichay yata andun. Dapat naman magbago na siya (Pichay), iba naman na ang administrasyon," he said. "The only people who can corroborate Unas are the same people inside Malacañang the time it happened which is mga kakampi nila noon pero baka gustong magbagong buhay na ngayon," he added. As of posting time, GMA News Online was still trying to reach Pichay for his comment. Last month, Pichay was replaced by former Agrarian Reform chief Rene Villa as LWUA chair. In July, Malacañang dismissed Pichay as LWUA chairman and two other officials for their alleged misuse of the agency’s funds, a move which is in compliance with the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman. Pichay has since vowed to question the order in the Court of Appeals. Credible? Earlier in the day, Brillantes defended the credibility of Unas, saying his closeness to the Ampatuans is what makes him credible. Unas served with the Ampatuans from 2001 to 2009. He also served as Andal Sr.'s close adviser and spokesman. Andal Sr. and his three sons, Andal Jr., Zaldy, and Akhmad, are implicated in the November 23, 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. The Arroyo camp has since denied the allegations hurled by Unas. Focus on 2007 polls Meanwhile, Brillantes said they will allow Unas to appear before the poll fraud probe of the Senate but that he expects the chamber to focus on the 2004 polls. "Kami naman ngayon nag-coconcentrate ni (Justice) Sec. de Lima sa 2007, sila '04," he said. "Ang magfafile niyan is DOJ din. Dadalin din lahat ng evidence sa DOJ. Hindi naman makakapagfile ng criminal charges ang Senate," he added. Brillantes also said that Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, who was an alleged victim of cheating in the 2007 polls, should not delve into the 2007 elections too much. "Di magandang siya mag-iimbestiga [ng] 2007 [polls kasi] siya ang principal complainant sa 2007. Siya ang tinamaan dun, siya dapat ang magtestify," he said. The Comelec chief said they will probably be able to file cases against those involved in the alleged cheating during the 2004 and 2007 elections by December. "At the rate we're going I think we'll be able to finish it by December," he said.— RSJ, GMA News

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