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Monday, May 31, 2004
K-4 links KNP, Rep. Dilangalen to poll fraud
MANILA -- The ruling Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) reported on Sunday cases of election fraud allegedly committed by candidates, field workers and supporters of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).
Among those implicated in alleged poll irregularities is KNP senatorial candidate Didagen Dilangalen who allegedly seized three ballot boxes from a polling place in Notre Dame, Cotabato City. Dilangalen justified his act saying he was making a "citizen's arrest" to show that cheating was being committed against his party.
In Pasay City, supporters of K-4 mayoral candidate Ricardo Santos apprehended seven persons who were trying to smuggle 11 sets of election returns out of the Cuneta Astrodome, which was used as a polling center during the May 10 local and national elections. The suspects were nabbed with the help of Marine soldiers while they were about to board a Toyota Revo with the stolen election returns.
Violence
In Aurora province, K-4 gubernatorial candidate Edgardo Ong, assisted by policemen, recovered 67 ballot boxes stashed inside an ice plant in Casiguran town. The ice plant is reportedly under the control of KNP mayoral candidate Henerias Estevez.
K-4 lawyers reported that in other areas, particularly in Mindanao, attempts to subvert results of the elections were marked by violence and bloodshed.
In Zamboanga del Sur, K-4 said residents reported terrorism and massive vote buying by KNP local bets in the towns of Lakewood, Lapuyan, Bayog, Kumalarang, Pitogo, Dinas, Gulpos and Margosatubig.
In Lapuyan, the family of a Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat was massacred. A K-4 barangay captain in Dumalinao town and a councilman in Bayog were allegedly killed by armed men identified with local KNP candidates.
Warlord
In Antique, two Lakas-CMD leaders were also killed, while the house of a local K-4 leader was torched in the municipality of Caluya.
Lakas-CMD members, assisted by Army troopers, were able to foil an attempt to snatch 21 ballot boxes in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. Unfortunately, four of the Lakas-CMD volunteers were killed. Armed men of a local warlord identified with the KNP reportedly gunned down the K-4 supporters.
In Calamba, Laguna, President Arroyo nearly lost 6,000 votes in a vote-shaving scheme had it not been for the vigilance of K-4 poll watchers. "It was made to appear that President Arroyo had only 20,437 votes when in fact, she had 26,437," K-4 officials said. (OPS)
(May 31, 2004 issue)
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