Abalos to alleged poll fraud witness: Show proof

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos dared yesterday the Mindanao businessman who claimed to have taken part in a secret operation to steal votes from opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. to come out with his evidence.

"If he has evidence he should present them so we could prosecute those people," he said.

"He should come out and put it in writing. From there we could investigate. I am not saying that what he is saying is not true but show us proof."

Rodolfo Galang, who had operated a banana processing business in Maguindanao, had exposed "Oplan Mercury," an alleged plan hatched by the administration to "steal" votes from Poe nationwide.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Galang dragged into the case the names of Abalos, and Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Virgilio Garcillano.

Abalos said Galang should follow the example of Fr. Joe Dizon of the group Patriots who gave the Comelec copies of certificates of canvass allegedly used in committing electoral fraud.

"In fact no questions were raised on the COCs used in the congressional canvass for the winning president and vice president as they are protected by various security features to determine their authenticity," he said.

The certificates were later found to be fake and the case was turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation, he added.

However, Galang told broadcaster Arnold Clavio over radio station dzBB yesterday that election returns and certificates of canvass in Maguindanao were "manufactured, fabricated and signed by 50 persons" in the provincial capitol.

"Maguindanao is composed of 22 towns," he said. "Fourteen of the towns are controlled by Datu Andal Ampatuan, governor of Maguindanao."

Galang said as an "operator" of "Oplan Mercury," he saw how election paraphernalia for Maguindanao had been delivered to one of the Davao provinces.

"They were fetched by a group of soldiers and a son-in-law of Ampatuan, and brought to the provincial capitol where they were prepared and signed by 50 persons just before the elections," he said.

During the interview, Galang told Clavio that he had received text messages from Conrado Limcaoco, presidential assistant on mass media and ecclesiastical affairs, whom he said had recruited him to join "Oplan Mercury."

He showed Clavio a text message which read: "Dala na po nila ang pera," meaning the money was on the way.

Clavio compared Limcaoco’s cell phone number in his directory with that on Galang’s, and he said on air that they matched.

Galang said nobody could have won against Mrs. Arroyo in the last elections because of the "manipulation, the grand slam cheating, and the unscrupulous use of public funds" to ensure her victory.

Before ending the interview, Galang said it might be the last time he would speak publicly about the elections, Galang has accused the administration of spending from P100 million to P200 million "in government money" to get two million votes for Mrs. Arroyo in Central Mindanao.

Galang said Limcaoco reneged on his promise to give him a franchise to operate four slot machine stations in Metro Manila.

He was reimbursed only for his expenses, he added.

Galang was presented to reporters Monday at Club Filipino in San Juan by former solicitor general Frank Chavez, Task Force Anti-Election Fraud (TFAEF) chairman.

Galang said he is ready to testify and present his evidence before any "unbiased" body. — Jose Aravilla