Senate panels to continue poll fraud probe

Despite the electoral sabotage case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. Koko Pimentel on Monday said that they will continue with their investigation into alleged cheating during the 2004 and 2007 elections. Pimentel, who chairs the Senate electoral reforms committee and claims to be a victim of poll fraud, said they have a different purpose for conducting the investigation, which is to review existing laws and improve them to ensure that no cheating will occur in future elections. "Para kahit automated na, hindi maulit itong mga malawakang dayaan, yun po ang purpose noon kaya tuloy po ang probe namin," he told reporters in an interview. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed last Friday an electoral sabotage case against Mrs. Arroyo, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol. On the same day, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 issued warrants of arrest against the three. Pimentel is one of the complainants in the case against Mrs. Arroyo, who is now a congresswoman representing the second district of Pampanga. Pimentel said if other personalities are also proven to be responsible for the alleged widespread cheating, the Senate will recommend the filing of cases against them. The camp of Mrs. Arroyo has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the electoral sabotage case and warrant of arrest against the former President. It is also expected to challenge the validity of the joint Department of Justice-Comelec panel that investigated the alleged fraud. Pimentel, however, said that the set-up of the joint panel was constitutional, contrary to the accusation of Mrs. Arroyo’s camp. "[If] the Comelec wants a joint probe with the DOJ, hindi automatically unconstitutional yun. Malaki ang kapangyarihan ng Comelec, it is given by the Constitution and by the law... a big elbow room on how it should perform its functions and duties," he said. Last August, Pimentel was proclaimed the 12th winning senator in the controversial 2007 polls after the Senate Electoral Tribunal found out some of the ballots during the elections were spurious and were accomplished by more than one person. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who was initially proclaimed by the Comelec as the winner four years ago, was replaced by Pimentel. Zubiri resigned last Aug. 3 from the Senate. Pimentel said the recent developments would not interfere with his duties as chairman of the Senate electoral reforms panel, which is jointly hearing the poll fraud allegations with the Senate blue ribbon committee. The Senate panels have yet to schedule their next hearing. - KBK, GMA News