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Monday, March 29, 2004
Lacson: PMA denied cadets' right to vote
By Harley F. Palangchao
PRESIDENTIAL candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson revealed Sunday the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) reportedly banned close to a thousand cadets from registering with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last year.
Lacson, who was in Baguio since Saturday afternoon for a campaign rally here and in nearby Benguet province along with his lone senatorial bet Rep. Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya, said PMA officials, led by its superintendent Maj. Gen. Edilberto Adan, prevented the first, second and third class cadets from registering with the Comelec office in Baguio.
He said he got the information from a second-class cadet a few days ago before he visited Baguio and Benguet.
Lacson said only the plebes or fourth class cadets were allowed to register after PMA officials allegedly realized the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is solidly behind Lacson's presidential bid.
"Only the plebes were allowed to register because they (PMA officials) knew that the Cadet Corps is solidly supporting my candidacy," he said.
But Marines Major Edgard Arevalo, who was then the PMA information officer during the Comelec registration period, denied Lacson's allegations. "There's no truth to the allegations that PMA prevented the cadets to register and vote."
He added: "On the contrary and as a matter of policy, we are encouraging our cadets to exercise their right to suffrage. That is the only political act that our cadets and us in the AFP can lawfully exercise."
Arevalo, however, said some of the cadets were not able to register because they were either confined in the hospital, or in other military duties during the Comelec-appointed period for registration and validation.
Still, Lacson, a member of the elite PMA Class of 1971, blamed Adan, whom he alleged to be afraid that President Arroyo will not get the majority of support of the PMA cadets.
The senator expressed confidence he is the only presidential bet who has the solid support of the cadets even as PMA officials snubbed him during the PMA Foundation Day at the Borromeo Fields last month.
Lacson's presence was not officially recognized by Adan during the PMA Foundation Day, where Arroyo was the guest of honor.
(March 29, 2004 issue)
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