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Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Drilon orders inquiry on empty COCs
SENATE President Franklin Drilon Monday ordered an immediate investigation into the discovery of three empty Certificates of Canvass (COCs) in the Senate building.
But Drilon suspected that the opposition was behind this plot, meant to destroy the integrity of the Senate in the canvassing of votes cast for presidential and vice president last May 10.
Drilon said he sees two motives, namely, a sloppy attempt to influence the outcome of the elections by inserting fraudulent election returns before the actual canvass, and a sloppier attempt by unscrupulous political operators to cast doubts in the integrity of the entire election process by planting the bogus COCs.
"And then, they will question the integrity of the election returns," he added.
Three envelopes containing empty COCs each were found Monday in separate areas in the Senate building.
Based on a report from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (Ossa), the first envelope was found by Jose Manuel, an OSAA staffer at the 3rd floor near fire exit at 9:30 a.m.; the second was discovered by Chariot Lacdao at the lavatory of the ladies room at the 5th floor at 9:45 a.m. The third envelope was found by Elizabeth Jacinto, a staffer of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in the fire exit stairway at the 4th floor at 10:30 a.m.
The envelopes contained the same number of COCs, certificates of votes and stick-on sticker seal.
"In the light of all these developments, I would like to reiterate my assurance to the Filipino people that no attempt to defraud the elections will ever succeed. At the Senate, no sinister act will ever be successful. Our personnel will always be on guard to stave off any attempt to cast doubts on the integrity of the canvassing of votes," Drilon said.
The Senate chief also suspected that the plot is allegedly part of the allegations made by Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) lawyer Demaree Raval that a switching of COCs would take place in the Senate.
Drilon said it was a second attempt to cast doubt on the integrity of the COCs being received by the Senate prior to the official canvassing of votes. Earlier,
Raval has accused the Senate of storing empty ballot boxes to be used for election fraud.
The Senate already asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to check the authenticity of the forms. JPM
(May 18, 2004 issue)
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