Bongbong warns Comelec of CIA meddling in polls

by JOMAR CANLAS Reporter (The Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/12993-bongbong-warns-comelec-of-cia-meddling-in-polls

Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte on Monday warned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the possibility of agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) coming to the Philippines to monitor the May 10 elections disguised as legitimate foreign poll observers.

Bongbong, the only son late former strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, asked the Comelec to strengthen accreditation procedures for foreign observers, especially those arriving from the United States, as they may be CIA agents.

“The Comelec should thoroughly examine the credentials and backgrounds of all foreign observers, particularly the Americans, to ensure that they are not CIA operatives,” he said.

Bongbong, a senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party in the May balloting, also underscored the need for Comelec Chairman Jose Melo to come up with guidelines on foreign observers so that they may know their limitations and their duties in the elections less than three months away.

“Once we discover that there are foreign observers who are actually CIA members, we must immediately send them out of the country,” he said.

Marcos also warned that the policy of intervention by the United States is noticeable during presidential elections because the Americans want to make sure that their interests in the country are always protected.

“We should remain vigilant. We must not allow the US to intervene in our elections. Each of our votes is sacred. The real voice of the Filipino people must be heard during the elections,” he explained.

Bongbong argued that the CIA has a long history of spying in countries like the Philippines where the US wants to maintain its influence and protect its interests.