Namfrel cries fraud in ARMM polls

COTABATO CITY — Last Monday’s elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were rigged to favor pro-administration candidate for governor Parouk Hussin and vice gubernatorial running mate Mahid Mutilan, the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said yesterday.

Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., Namfrel chairman in the ARMM, said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should stop the canvassing of votes and investigate reports of electoral fraud which Namfrel representatives saw in different polling stations in the region.

"Based on the questionable election returns the Namfrel saw, we can say the cheating was done in favor of the candidacy of the administration candidates," he said.

"The Comelec, motu propio, should investigate all these cases first, otherwise the confidence of the people in our electoral system will totally erode," he said.

Hussin and Mutilan will lead other administration-backed candidates in sweeping the elections, according to retired Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process.

"This information will be significant to the (Organization of Islamic Conference) to prove the sincerity of the government in really implementing the spirit of the provisions of the 1996 (peace) agreement," he said.

On the other hand, Jolly Lais, spokesman for the Youth for New Politics in the ARMM, said teachers manning polling stations in several towns in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao were surprised to receive ballots which already contained the names of Hussin and Mutilan.

"These incidents showed wanton disregard of people’s rights to vote and also serves as a desperate move of some government officials in supporting the unpopular and foreign administration candidate, Parouk Hussin," he said.

Lais said they will hold protest actions in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu to condemn the electoral fraud and pressure the government to resolve the crisis.

However, Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong said former Datu Paglas, Maguindanao Mayor Ibrahim "Toto" Paglas lost to Hussin because he did not have a "viable" political machinery outside of Maguindanao.

"It was this lack of political organization that worked against Paglas, and simply put this was the main reason that contributed to his defeat," Datumanong said.

Datumanong said Monday’s ARMM elections have been described by voters as the most orderly in the region except for a few cases of "disturbance" in some areas.

"But these did not in any way affect the intent and objective of the poll exercise which is to provide the people of the ARMM a venue to elect a successor to (renegade Gov. Nur) Misuari who has been suspended following the armed attack by his followers on an Army camp in Sulu and who is now facing charges of illegally entering Malaysia," the Cabinet secretary said.

Jose Pio Joson, Comelec deputy executive director for operations, told reporters yesterday the ARMM regional board of canvassers is set to reconvene today or tomorrow.

Joson said the poll body expects to receive today or tomorrow the certificates of canvass from Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.

Yesterday’s shootout between government troops and Misuari partisans will not affect the canvassing of votes in Zamboanga City, he added.

Joson said they plan to take the certificates of canvass from Zamboanga City and neighboring towns to Pagadian City because of the fighting.

The certificates of canvass and other necessary documents can be brought to Pagadian City from Zamboanga City within three hours via fast seacraft or helicopter, he added.

Comelec Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco said she doubts the official poll body report that the ARMM elections were orderly and peaceful.

"Based on Sulu Rep. Hussain Amin’s report, there was actual violence during the elections," she said.

Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo denied yesterday allegations that Malacañang had "influenced" him to push through with the elections.

"I want to make it clear that I do not receive instructions from Malacañang about the conduct of elections in the ARMM," he said. "President Arroyo never gave me any instruction. I will not receive anyway (will not accept instructions if it has been given). I was never for the postponement of the ARMM elections."

The ARMM elections could only be suspended through an act of Congress, he added.

Benipayo said the ARMM Organic Act provides when the newly elected regional officials would assume office. –With a report from Marichu Villanueva