Thursday, June 07, 2007 'NBI men ordered out of Lanao Sur canvassing'
TO GIVE way for rigged Certificates of Canvass (COCs) to be counted, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was hurriedly pulled out from the controversial Lanao del Sur canvassing, an official of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) alleged.
The NBI-Northern Mindanao had earlier reported that the allegedly tampered ballot boxes from the towns of Kauswagan, Bacolod, and Maigo in Lanao del Norte had been forcibly opened.
Canvassing in the province's first district congressional race became controversial after the COCs of the three towns did not match the authenticated copies of the COCs in the possession of the Namfrel-PPCRV and Liberal Party (LP).
The allegedly tampered COCs showed congressional candidate and Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Dimaporo garnering a total of 26,213 votes.
However, when these were compared to the authenticated copies of the COCs in the possession of the Namfrel-PPCRV and LP, Dimaporo got only 8,253 votes.
"And days before the canvassing of votes in the first district ended, the NBI was ordered to terminate its verification on some questioned election documents and paraphernalia," said the Namfrel official, who spoke to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in condition of anonymity.
"With the NBI out of the picture, this led to the counting of dubious COCs, and despite the objections from opposing lawyers," said the Namfrel official, speaking by phone from Iligan.
NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said they are "subservient" to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which can request for their assistance on "questioned documents" and can terminate their services anytime.
Based on the report by NBI Assistant Regional Director Alex Cabornay, Mendez said their document examiners were relieved from the duty last week on the order of Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.
Meanwhile, indignation rallies continued Wednesday in Iligan City, where thousands of people denounced the Comelec's decision to canvass the allegedly tampered ballot boxes. (DVA/With reports from Lino Dela Cruz)
