3 witnesses to alleged vote-rigging operations surface at Senate

Three whistleblowers from Quezon province went to the Senate on Monday to meet with some senators in a bid to expose an alleged poll-rigging operation to favor candidates of the administration.

The whistleblowers, who hid behind scarves and sunglasses, were accompanied by Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary-general Pastor Boy Saycon.

They were scheduled to meet with senators Sergio Osmeña III, TG Guingona, and Vicente Sotto III, all candidates during the May 9 polls, as well as Sen. Nancy Binay, whose father, outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay, lost in the presidential election.

Among the three senators who ran for reelection, only Sotto won, securing the third spot.

During a press conference before meeting with the senators, only one male whistleblower spoke.

"Nagpasya po kaming lumantad dahil sa pangyayari po na kami ay mismong nakasaksi at ginamit na kasangkapan sa pangyayaring ito," the unidentified man said.

He said the rigging of election results was done in a building in Quezon province, where computers and vote counting machines were used. He said Smartmatic personnel were onsite to help in the operations.

"Ito po ay meron po kaming kaniya kaniyang trabaho sa makina o machine na ginagamit para po ito ay maisagawa ang manipulasyon ng pagkuha ng boto sa ibang kandidato," he said.

"Ang nangyayari po ay meron po kaming transcript, 'yung galing sa munisipalidad na nabilang na, upang ito ay mamanipula namin ang mga numero at mailagay namin doon sa gusto nilang kandidato. Ang ginagawa po namin ay pagkatapos po sa amin, binabato doon sa aming mga kasama sa second floor, third floor, na siyang may makina ng Smartmatic doon."

The whistleblower said at least 300,000 votes from the province were added to the tally for incoming Vice President Leni Robredo. The said votes were allegedly taken from other vice presidential candidates.

He noted that the biggest "shaving" of votes happened to those of Robredo's closest rival, Sen. Bongbong Marcos.

"Malaki po ang nabawas... Sa akin pong pagkakaalam ay siguro naglalaro sa humigit kumulang limang daang libo," he said.

He also alleged that at least 400,000 votes were added to administration presidential candidate Mar Roxas.

Asked where most votes were shaved off, the whistleblower said, "'Yung pong may malaking [boto]." He nodded when asked if he was referring to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.

The whistleblower also alleged that votes were added to some senatorial candidates, most of them from LP. He named Sen. Franklin Drilon, who topped the race.

Evidence

Saycon and the whistleblower, however, did not present any evidence.

"We're preparing affidavit by our legal counsels. Ayaw namin iparating sa Comelec (Commission on Elections) kasi baka pagtakpan 'yung ginagawa namin. Sabi nila kasi, 'pag walang ebidensya, kami ang babalikan," Saycon said.

He added: "Talagang sa computerization, it's hard to produce evidence, kaya nga they didn't want to issue the receipt. 'Yung resibo na nakasaad sa batas... 'Yung mga hawak naming ebidensya ilalabas in due time."

The whistleblower said they were not aware that they would take part of the scheme until election day itself.

"Including training po, siguro 10 days, two weeks... Ang pagkakaalam po namin training po for... pagsasaayos ng computer na kailangan," he said.

According to Saycon, the whistleblowers approached him, wanting to come clean after taking part in the scheme.

He said they are members of Iglesia ni Cristo, and were cleared by the religious group to expose what they knew on individual capacity.

He added that he did not know the whistleblowers beforehand.

"Ang iniimbestiga ko po, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, at Sulu. I don't know, meron akong mga witnesses katulad nila, merong affidavit. Doon naman, pre-shading. Ito iba naman. Para talagang siniguro nilang iba't ibang application ng cheating ang ginamit," he said.

During the press conference, Saycon denied that he was affiliated with Marcos, who is set to challenge Robredo's victory over discrepancies that his camp claims to have found.

Show proof

Malacañang, meanwhile, urged the group of Saycon to show proof and present these to the proper bodies.

“Let the rule of law prevail: those who have proof of fraud may present these to the proper tribunal,” Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma, Jr. said in a text message.

In an earlier interview, Robredo said accusations should be taken to the proper forum where she can defend herself, rather than use the issue to condition the minds of the public.

“As much as possible, ayaw ko sanang pakinggan. Ang sa akin, sana kung mayroong mga testigo, lumabas na kaagad, kasi the longer na this is staying, iyong conditioning ng mind ng tao sa isang kasinungalingan, tingin ko ay unfair sa ating bansa,” she told GMA News.

Robredo said allegations of cheating do not help in “rebuilding” relationships after what was a “very divisive” national elections.

“Ang sa akin, ang interes ko ay ang mailabas ang katotohanan kasi kailangan ko ring makita na wala naman akong kasalanan, walang kasalanan ang partido. Sigurado ako na walang ginawa ang LP sa akin,” she stressed.

“Nakakalungkot lang na ganito ang pagtanggap doon sa pagkatalo. Ang sa akin naman, mas mabuti kung kailangang magkaso, magkaso na para nasasagot sa proper form,” Robredo added.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez also urged the supposed witnesses to produce evidence.

"At this point, I'd like to heaer their complete story. And of course, if they can produce evidence, would be so  much better," Jimenez said.

The official tally saw Robredo finish with 14,418,817 votes, beating Senator Marcos who had 14,155,344, a slim margin of only 263,473 votes. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez and Xianne Arcangel/ALG, GMA News