Namfrel officials’ impartiality questioned

Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) senatorial candidate Francisco Tatad questioned yesterday the "impartiality" of the two top officials of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), saying they had been biased for President Arroyo even before the May 10 elections.

In a news conference at the KNP-sponsored People’s Tally and Action Center at the Makati Coliseum, Tatad also blasted Namfrel chairman Jose Concepcion Jr. and secretary-general Guillermo Luz for accusing the opposition of shopping for evidence of fraud.

"Their impartiality is under question now. They cannot be part of an impartial watchdog organization while at the same time carrying the torch of one of the presidential candidates. I believe that is the basic rule. Mr. Concepcion and Mr. Luz should take notice of this in case they are not aware their credibility has been questioned long ago and remains under question right now," he said.

Tatad insisted that the KNP’s evidence for electoral fraud was given "voluntarily" by people nationwide.

"We are not buying evidence and we will not buy evidence principally because it violates our moral principles. And secondly, even if we are to violate our own principles, we do not have the money for this and I think this is well-known to everyone," he said.

Concepcion said ver the weekend there was no evidence of massive cheating as claimed by the KNP, while Luz criticized some members of the opposition as being "bountry hunters" for offering a reward for anyone who could present evidence of fraud.

Tatad described Namfrel officials as "politicians" and urged them to be more "circumspect" in their statements about the opposition, especially since they had "openly identified themselves with Mrs. Arroyo."

"Their biases are well-known. They have openly spoken against our presidential candidate and in favor of Mrs. Arroyo. How can they expect to be treated as credible spokesmen of an impartial process," he said.

Tatad noted Namfrel failed to tally until its latest count the votes of KNP presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. in Metro Manila despite its being "closest" to the watchdog’s headquarters in La Salle Greenhills, Mandaluyong City.

Exit polls and partial, unofficial results show Poe leading Mrs. Arroyo in Metro Manila.

Tatad claimed that election returns from opposition strongholds were "being deliberately excluded" by Namfrel.

He said that the KNP would like to get copies of the reports of diplomatic observers on the conduct of the elections to buttress its allegations of massive fraud.

"They have not publicly come out but those reports are being made. Our understanding is they are not ready to bless the conduct of the elections with the kind of statements that we are hearing from the administration or from Namfrel," he said.

Tatad said that among the foreign observers were representatives of the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute and the International Foundation for Election Systems.