Cebu governor mentioned in ‘poll fraud’ tape

CEBU — The controversial taped conversations depicting alleged fraud in the 2004 elections were also said to have mentioned the gubernatorial contest in Cebu.

According to a transcript of the taped conversations obtained by The Freeman from the Internet, a male voice asked "Gary," allegedly Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, about the Cebu governor.

The male voice also allegedly asked that Garcia be proclaimed winner.

"Pare, kung anong konsiderasyon pare ha? Paki-declare si Garcia ha. Tinanggal siya eh," the unknown male said.

"Oo syempre, pinag-usapan natin yun eh," Gary answered.

Former 4th district Rep. Celestino Martinez III, a defeated gubernatorial candidate, said Garcia’s inclusion in the controversial tape has proven his detractors wrong.

"Tinood gyud, from the very start we know about those manipulations... after all this time, we were not making up any stories," he said.

Martinez filed graft charges against the provincial board of canvassers after he got about 7,000 votes less than Garcia’s 405,852 votes. The charges were eventually dismissed.

Capitol legal consultant Pablo John Garcia said the authenticity of the tape is very much doubtful, adding that by June 8, 2004, all the votes had been tallied.

"On that day, there was no more chance to change the figures," he said.

Even if the taped conversations were authentic, he said they did not mention tampering with the votes to make Gwen win.

"That person would mean that since all the certificates of canvass were there already, their intention was to declare the real winner to ensure stability," he said. Besides, he said the order to have Gwen declared winner on June 8 was not followed. — Freeman News Service