Ex-judge links Mike A to 2004 poll fraud

MANILA, Philippines - A former Shari'a court judge today directly linked former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to the alleged rigging of results of the 2004 presidential election.

"He just told me to do everything for the president (former President and now Pampanga Gov. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) and after the elections we will take care of you and your family," former Shari'a court judge Nagamura Moner said during the Senate blue ribbon committee's hearing on the anomalous purchase of police helicopters in 2009.

Moner was referring to an alleged phone conversation with Mr. Arroyo on May 14, 2004, or four days after the presidential elections where the top contenders were Mrs. Arroyo and the late actor Fernando Poe jr.

The judge said that he was initially talking to former Philippine Ports Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi over the phone, where he was instructed by the former official to go to Cotabato City and "find a way what can be done" to make sure that Mrs. Arroyo will win the election.

The judge said that Cusi handed over the phone to Mr. Arroyo, who convinced him to cheat in the elections.

Moner said that the first gentleman and Cusi told him to look for contacts who can approach election officers. He said that he was advised to pay off the election officers "if necessary."

The judge said that he gave out P100,000 to P3 million in bribe money to the contacts, who were supposed to give the cash to the election officers who are in charge of precincts where Mrs. Arroyo was losing to the late movie star.

Moner told senators that he did not see the actual pay off between his contacts and the election officers.

The judge was just supposed to testify on the pre-owned helicopters purchased by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2009. Moner claimed he was able to ride one of the two pre-helicopters in question, which was allegedly owned by the former first gentleman.

In previous hearing, Lionair Inc. president Archibald Po told the Senate that Mr. Arroyo told him he needed at least five helicopters for the 2004 presidential campaign of his wife.

Po said during the hearing that Mr. Arroyo told him to arrange for the sale of his helicopters, two of which were sold to the PNP.

Moner had also been invited in the "Hello, Garci" hearings in 2005, where he denied his supposed role in the alleged election rigging operations in 2004.

Earlier in the hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson called out Moner to testify. The senator announced at the start of the hearing that Moner was in the gallery.

"I'd like to manifest that he be called [to testify]," Lacson said, who later revealed that he had met with Moner last Friday and discussed the former judge's possible appearance in the hearing.

After the hearing, Lacson told reporters that Moner denied in 2005 his supposed role in election cheating because he was worried about his and his family’s safety.

“It is only now that he decided na magsalita na,” the senator said, adding that he believed the testimonies of Moner.

Dirty choppers

Sen. Teofisto Guingona, chairman the committee, said after the hearing that Moner's testimony today capped the Senate's investigation on the anomalous purchase of the PNP helicopters.

Guingona said that based on the evidence and testimonies gathered during the hearings, the helicopters allegedly owned by Mr. Arroyo is tainted by "betrayal of public trust."

"Itong mga helicopters ay naging kasaysayan at kasangkapan ng panloloko sa taumbayan. Binili ang choppers para gamitin sa pandaraya sa 2004 presidential elections pagtapos ng presidential elections ay ipinang-good time nila -- papunta sa Malacañang, pagpunta sa mga golf course sa Pampanga, during the time they were in power," the senator said, referring to the members of the Arroyo family and the past administration, who allegedly used the helicopters.

The senator said that what was most insulting for the Filipinos was that after the helicopters were used in illegal activities, these were sold to the government, through the PNP, as brand new and at higher prices.

Guingona, meanwhile, said that today's hearing might be the last regarding the anomalous purchase of the helicopters. He said that the committee has "enough already" to come up with a committee report and recommend the filing of cases against people involved in the deal.

He said that the possible cases that may be recommended by the committee are plunder and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He said that the committee will be shifting its focus to the 2004 election rigging in its hearing next week.

"Ang nangyari today ay nag-branch out na ito to election fraud. In the next hearing, we will concentrate on election fraud already," he said.

Meanwhile, Guingona assured protection for Moner while the Senate is hearing the alleged election cheating in 2004 involving the former first gentleman.