Ex-poll exec testifies on supposed tampering of 2007 election results

A former municipal election officer from Maguindanao on Thursday testified on the supposed tampering of the results of the 2007 midterm polls in her area, a GMA News report said.

 

GMA News' Lei Alviz reported that Susan Cabanban, who used to work for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in SK Pendaton town, said she personally received orders to fill out election forms with figures from supposedly tampered certificates of canvass during the 2007 elections.

 

Cabanban was the first prosecution witness in the trial on the poll sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.

 

The three are being accused before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court of rigging the 2007 midterm elections to favor administration senatorial bets during Mrs. Arroyo’s incumbency. All of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

The prosecution witness also said that the person who ordered the tampering of the election forms was from Bedol's office. She, however, failed to show documents to prove the supposed tampering, the report said.

 

 

Bedol, who personally showed up in the trial, denied involvement in the supposed tampering, the report added.

 

The next trial day on the poll sabotage case was scheduled on March 14.

 

Although electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense, the Pasay court allowed Mrs. Arroyo last July to post bail for the case, citing lack of evidence to establish that the ex-President conspired with her co-accused to rig the 2007 elections. Mrs. Arroyo is currently detained in Quezon City for separate plunder charges for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds during her presidency. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News