By Mario J. Mallari (The Daily Tribune)
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100430hed3.html
Acting defense secretary Norberto Gonzales yesterday warned that there would be cheating in next month’s national elections as he said that several people were already trying to bribe polling officials and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I’m telling you that the cheating has (already) begun,” Gonzales told a gathering of Christian and Muslim religious leaders. “There will be cheating in the coming elections.”
Gonzales did not say who was behind the cheating but said people had already begun trying to bribe members of the body overseeing the poll, the Commission on Elections.
“Money is being distributed to some officials already these days,” he said.
Gonzales bared that attempts to bribe some poll officials, the AFP and PNP to rig the results of the May 10 presidential elections.
“We have some experts saying that it can be rigged and I am telling you now that there will be attempts of cheating in the national elections,” Gonzales stressed before the Bishops-Ulama Conference on Wednesday night in Davao City.
Aside from the supposed bribery of Comelec officials, Gonzales also disclosed attempts to “buy” some officials of the AFP and the PNP which are both deputized by the Comelec to perform vital role before, during and after the elections.
“It seems to be that this noble effort of our men and women in uniform are not being respected. There will be attempts to (bribe) our Armed Forces and police officials. There will be and it has begun,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales, however, said he does not know how much was involved in the bribery.
But Gonzales vowed the military will do its best to counter any attempts to manipulate the results of the May 10 elections as he stressed the AFP is constitutionally-mandated to protect the people.
According to Gonzales, he learned of the bribery sometime Monday or Sunday. “We noticed this two, three days ago and it is too early to tell you who are involved and how this (cheating) is going to be done,” he added.
Gonzales even claimed that some of those who refused the supposed bribe offer reported to him such attempt. “Many officials in the Comelec hate being bribed. I can tell you that one of my sources is from the Comelec itself,” he said.
The acting defense chief claimed that at least two presidential candidates stand to benefit from the bribery and the planned cheating but was quick to imply that Nacionalista Party presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar, whom he supposedly endorsed to Army officers in a recent gathering, is not among them.
When asked if the camp of the monied and billionaire candidate are involved in the bribery, the defense chief said: “I think you are all guessing it wrong.”
On whether the suspects include a bachelor presidential bet, and administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro, he said questions like these are too difficult to reply.
On whether the bribery attempt is coming from the opposition, Gonzales said: “Well, we cannot classify who is the opposition since the lines are blurred.”
Gonzales said Southern Tagalog is among the areas where the bribery is taking place. The official said he is disclosing the information in the hope that bribery and the cheating can be preempted.
He said concerned authorities are now in the process of documenting the bribery and gathering witnesses “then we will file cases hopefully before the elections.”
President Arroyo’s spokesman, Gary Olivar, said Gonzales had did not mention his concerns to the president, but conceded he may be correct. “He is being frank... in order to prepare people so they can cooperate with the duly-constituted authorities,” Olivar said.
But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez denied any knowledge of cheating and said Gonzales had not raised this matter with his group.
“I invite the good secretary to back up his words before he starts maligning a government agency,” he said.
At the same time, the defense chief raised the alarm over Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s threat to mount a people power revolt if he loses the election.”We have a presidential candidate who is assuming that he will win the elections. He is accusing everyone and telling everyone that if he loses, it means that he has been cheated,” Gonzales said during an interview with reporters.
Gonzales did not name the candidate but obviously he was referring to Aquino, who has warned of people’s revolt if he loses in the elections. “ I am worried about this people power business. People power is okay if it will succeed, which means that if it will succeed, then there will be peace. But I do not believe that this people power will succeed,” he said.
The acting defense chief said a failed people power is not good for the country as he appealed to the religious leaders to help authorities call on concerned individuals not to resort to violence.
Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed confidence in the loyalty of the members of the military and the PNP to their mandate.
Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo made this statement in relation to Gonzales’ baring of a possible destabilization plot allegedly planned by the quarters of two presidential candidates.
Saludo said, “We are not receiving any direct report about it and we, of course, are just referring to the Defense Secretary when it comes to issues on national security. Nevertheless, we still believe that our soldiers and policemen will not allow themselves to be used (by politicians) and will remain faithful to their duties (in protecting) our democracy.”
Saludo said the Palace will leave everything up to Gonzales to take care of this issue.
At this point, one thing that the government can assure the public is the conviction it has to take action against anyeffort to compromise the integrity of the elections or the integrity of the AFP, Saludo added.
“Let us remember even in election time despite attacks on the integrity of certain individuals the fact is the AFP and the police have performed their jobs in securing the elections and affirming our democratic exercises even beyond the call of duty,” Saludo reminded.
With Aytch S. dela Cruz and AFP
Link: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100430hed3.html
Acting defense secretary Norberto Gonzales yesterday warned that there would be cheating in next month’s national elections as he said that several people were already trying to bribe polling officials and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I’m telling you that the cheating has (already) begun,” Gonzales told a gathering of Christian and Muslim religious leaders. “There will be cheating in the coming elections.”
Gonzales did not say who was behind the cheating but said people had already begun trying to bribe members of the body overseeing the poll, the Commission on Elections.
“Money is being distributed to some officials already these days,” he said.
Gonzales bared that attempts to bribe some poll officials, the AFP and PNP to rig the results of the May 10 presidential elections.
“We have some experts saying that it can be rigged and I am telling you now that there will be attempts of cheating in the national elections,” Gonzales stressed before the Bishops-Ulama Conference on Wednesday night in Davao City.
Aside from the supposed bribery of Comelec officials, Gonzales also disclosed attempts to “buy” some officials of the AFP and the PNP which are both deputized by the Comelec to perform vital role before, during and after the elections.
“It seems to be that this noble effort of our men and women in uniform are not being respected. There will be attempts to (bribe) our Armed Forces and police officials. There will be and it has begun,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales, however, said he does not know how much was involved in the bribery.
But Gonzales vowed the military will do its best to counter any attempts to manipulate the results of the May 10 elections as he stressed the AFP is constitutionally-mandated to protect the people.
According to Gonzales, he learned of the bribery sometime Monday or Sunday. “We noticed this two, three days ago and it is too early to tell you who are involved and how this (cheating) is going to be done,” he added.
Gonzales even claimed that some of those who refused the supposed bribe offer reported to him such attempt. “Many officials in the Comelec hate being bribed. I can tell you that one of my sources is from the Comelec itself,” he said.
The acting defense chief claimed that at least two presidential candidates stand to benefit from the bribery and the planned cheating but was quick to imply that Nacionalista Party presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar, whom he supposedly endorsed to Army officers in a recent gathering, is not among them.
When asked if the camp of the monied and billionaire candidate are involved in the bribery, the defense chief said: “I think you are all guessing it wrong.”
On whether the suspects include a bachelor presidential bet, and administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro, he said questions like these are too difficult to reply.
On whether the bribery attempt is coming from the opposition, Gonzales said: “Well, we cannot classify who is the opposition since the lines are blurred.”
Gonzales said Southern Tagalog is among the areas where the bribery is taking place. The official said he is disclosing the information in the hope that bribery and the cheating can be preempted.
He said concerned authorities are now in the process of documenting the bribery and gathering witnesses “then we will file cases hopefully before the elections.”
President Arroyo’s spokesman, Gary Olivar, said Gonzales had did not mention his concerns to the president, but conceded he may be correct. “He is being frank... in order to prepare people so they can cooperate with the duly-constituted authorities,” Olivar said.
But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez denied any knowledge of cheating and said Gonzales had not raised this matter with his group.
“I invite the good secretary to back up his words before he starts maligning a government agency,” he said.
At the same time, the defense chief raised the alarm over Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s threat to mount a people power revolt if he loses the election.”We have a presidential candidate who is assuming that he will win the elections. He is accusing everyone and telling everyone that if he loses, it means that he has been cheated,” Gonzales said during an interview with reporters.
Gonzales did not name the candidate but obviously he was referring to Aquino, who has warned of people’s revolt if he loses in the elections. “ I am worried about this people power business. People power is okay if it will succeed, which means that if it will succeed, then there will be peace. But I do not believe that this people power will succeed,” he said.
The acting defense chief said a failed people power is not good for the country as he appealed to the religious leaders to help authorities call on concerned individuals not to resort to violence.
Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed confidence in the loyalty of the members of the military and the PNP to their mandate.
Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo made this statement in relation to Gonzales’ baring of a possible destabilization plot allegedly planned by the quarters of two presidential candidates.
Saludo said, “We are not receiving any direct report about it and we, of course, are just referring to the Defense Secretary when it comes to issues on national security. Nevertheless, we still believe that our soldiers and policemen will not allow themselves to be used (by politicians) and will remain faithful to their duties (in protecting) our democracy.”
Saludo said the Palace will leave everything up to Gonzales to take care of this issue.
At this point, one thing that the government can assure the public is the conviction it has to take action against anyeffort to compromise the integrity of the elections or the integrity of the AFP, Saludo added.
“Let us remember even in election time despite attacks on the integrity of certain individuals the fact is the AFP and the police have performed their jobs in securing the elections and affirming our democratic exercises even beyond the call of duty,” Saludo reminded.
With Aytch S. dela Cruz and AFP
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