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Miriam fears widespread poll cheating: 'Will CIA allow NPA candidate to win?'


Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday expressed fear over widespread poll cheating that could occur in the May 9 national elections.

"I fear very much that there would be wide scale cheating during the elections," Santiago said after her speech before students of the University of Santo Tomas.

Santiago pointed to the links of presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, adding the United States' Central Intelligence Agency may have a hand in what may happen.

“We have an NPA candidate. Papayag ba ang CIA na sinasabi may relasyon sa asawa ni Grace Poe na mananalo itong mga komunista?” Santiago said.

Poe's husband Neil Llamanzares was born in the US and once served in that country's Air Force, with unsubstantiated online reports linking him to the CIA.

Santiago also called Duterte "a favorite friend" of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.

“It appears he is a favorite friend of JoMa Sison. We all know that here in Manila, the NPA is divided into pro-JoMa and anti-JoMa,” Santiago said.

“If he has a pro-JoMa approach, that might explain why he has the support of leftist groups,” she added.

Santiago said the CIA has allotted money and resources to monitor the upcoming elections since the country sits on a strategic location in the South China Sea.

“I don't know how much money they have given for this elections. But CIA always keeps a wary eye in Filipino elections because we are in a geographical position in these seas,” Santiago said.

The CIA will not resort to eliminating a candidate since it will spark violence, according to Santiago.

Meanwhile, she urged undecided voters to cast their ballots on Election Day and let their voice be heard in electing the next president.

“To the undecided voters, I want you to value and cherish your vote, your ballot,” Santiago said.

“Sa boto mo namimili ka kung sino magpapatakbo ng gobyerno sa susunod na anim na taon,” she added.

Santiago said she has no plans of holding a miting de avance and will not attend that of her running mate, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, in Mandaluyong City due to conflict of schedules. —JST, GMA News

 

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