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Thursday, June 23, 2005
Cebu solon offers own tape on poll fraud
CEBU CITY -- While President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo again thanked Cebuanos for the vote margin that sent her back to Malacañang, one of her local allies asked Congress to play a tape that suggests not all of those votes may have been honestly obtained.
"I campaigned for President Arroyo," said Representative Clavel Asas-Martinez (Cebu, 4th district). "Now, looking back, I wonder if I did right. But I'm still a member of the majority and I want the truth to come out."
Martinez's offer to submit a tape--which allegedly reveals manipulation of the Cebuano vote--prompted other administration allies to call for adjournment of Day 2 of the House inquiry. Others tried to question the quorum. Their tactics failed.
Martinez did not get a chance to explain how she got the tape or if it has been authenticated, but she suspected it revealed Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano speaking about the poll results with Winston Garcia, chairman of the Government Service Insurance System.
Garcia's sister Gwendolyn defeated Martinez's husband Celestino, Jr. for governor of Cebu in last year's elections.
Both the Garcia and Martinez camps supported President Arroyo, who eventually gained a margin of some one million votes in Cebu over the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr.
Told about the hearing's developments in a phone interview, Governor Garcia said: "I would rather not comment on the statement of one who will say anything because her husband lost. Sometimes, desperation causes one to do anything."
Tape today
Martinez will submit her tape today, "but will leave it to the discretion of the committee (whether to play it or not). It is up to those who are seeking the truth to join me."
Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) cautioned that before any tape is played before the House committees, the tape's authenticity and origin have to be verified.
"The person who taped this must appear before the committee and testify, so we can determine if this tape is in violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law," said del Mar.
He expressed surprise at Martinez's claim of a tape about alleged electoral fraud in Cebu.
"We have already gone on record as stating, after the elections, that the elections in Cebu City were fair and square and that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won," said del Mar.
He also recalled that he and Congresswoman Martinez were among those who defended President Arroyo's win in Cebu, during the protracted congressional canvassing of votes last year.
Martinez, however, interrupted: "I'm now feeling sorry for what I did." (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(June 23, 2005 issue)
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