By Mario J. Mallari (The Daily Tribune)
http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100325nat1.html
A former commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) yesterday called for the close monitoring of the entire Mindanao region during the upcoming May presidential elections to avoid a repeat of the 2004 alleged electoral fraud in the area that resulted in the defeat of then opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr.
During a forum at Club Filipino, former Napolcom Commissioner Mario General, who was relieved recently from his post for still unknown reasons, said concerned authorities, apparently the political opposition, should have a close watch at Mindanao areas during the May national polls.
“They should closely monitor Mindanao during the coming elections,” General said, adding “what happened in 2004 might happen again.”
During the 2004 presidential elections, Poe lost to President Arroyo but filed a protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal but the actor-turned-politician died before the PET could decide on the matter. Poe, who is very popular among Muslims, but lost to Arroyo in some parts of Mindanao allegedly due to alleged election manipulation. In the controversial “Hello Garci” recordings of supposed conversations of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and some personalities, including a female voice allegedly that President Arroyo, regarding alleged manipulation of the election results in Mindanao.
Several top-ranking officials of both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were mentioned in the Hello Garci recordings.
Asked if he has knowledge of any plot to manipulate the upcoming elections in Mindanao, General only replied “just monitor Mindanao closely.”
General also noted the relief of at least 17 police provincial directors throughout the country before the election ban on appointments took effect last March 10. He alleged that this could have something to do with the upcoming elections.
The former Napolcom commissioner also disclosed the supposed “three-in-one scheme” in police recruitment in Mindanao region, particularly in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, allegedly by influential personalities there.
Under the scheme, three recruits gain slots in the local PNP after payment of P1 million from their “principal.”
At the same forum, erstwhile Defense Undersecretary Ariston de los Reyes expressed disappointment that his service was terminated earlier than the two Defense officials who were the subjects of separate complaints he filed during his term as undersecretary for Internal Affairs.
De los Reyes, who is known as Mr. Clean in the defense department for his no-nonsense professionalism, was unceremoniously relieved by Malacañang effective one day before the election ban of appointments took effect on March 9. He said he sought explanation for his termination came from acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales but was told he did not know the reason.
De los Reyes filed separate complaints against two ranking DND officials during his term as undersecretary of Internal Affairs. He, however, refused to speculate if his relief was prompted by complaints of dishonesty and illegal possession of munitions he filed against his colleagues at the Defense department.
A former commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) yesterday called for the close monitoring of the entire Mindanao region during the upcoming May presidential elections to avoid a repeat of the 2004 alleged electoral fraud in the area that resulted in the defeat of then opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr.
During a forum at Club Filipino, former Napolcom Commissioner Mario General, who was relieved recently from his post for still unknown reasons, said concerned authorities, apparently the political opposition, should have a close watch at Mindanao areas during the May national polls.
“They should closely monitor Mindanao during the coming elections,” General said, adding “what happened in 2004 might happen again.”
During the 2004 presidential elections, Poe lost to President Arroyo but filed a protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal but the actor-turned-politician died before the PET could decide on the matter. Poe, who is very popular among Muslims, but lost to Arroyo in some parts of Mindanao allegedly due to alleged election manipulation. In the controversial “Hello Garci” recordings of supposed conversations of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and some personalities, including a female voice allegedly that President Arroyo, regarding alleged manipulation of the election results in Mindanao.
Several top-ranking officials of both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were mentioned in the Hello Garci recordings.
Asked if he has knowledge of any plot to manipulate the upcoming elections in Mindanao, General only replied “just monitor Mindanao closely.”
General also noted the relief of at least 17 police provincial directors throughout the country before the election ban on appointments took effect last March 10. He alleged that this could have something to do with the upcoming elections.
The former Napolcom commissioner also disclosed the supposed “three-in-one scheme” in police recruitment in Mindanao region, particularly in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, allegedly by influential personalities there.
Under the scheme, three recruits gain slots in the local PNP after payment of P1 million from their “principal.”
At the same forum, erstwhile Defense Undersecretary Ariston de los Reyes expressed disappointment that his service was terminated earlier than the two Defense officials who were the subjects of separate complaints he filed during his term as undersecretary for Internal Affairs.
De los Reyes, who is known as Mr. Clean in the defense department for his no-nonsense professionalism, was unceremoniously relieved by Malacañang effective one day before the election ban of appointments took effect on March 9. He said he sought explanation for his termination came from acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales but was told he did not know the reason.
De los Reyes filed separate complaints against two ranking DND officials during his term as undersecretary of Internal Affairs. He, however, refused to speculate if his relief was prompted by complaints of dishonesty and illegal possession of munitions he filed against his colleagues at the Defense department.
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