LP slams PPCRV chief over rumors of VCMs seen inside Cubao hotel

The Liberal Party (LP) on Monday scored Ambassador Henrietta de Villa of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for claiming that vote-counting machines (VCMs) were seen at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City.

In a statement, Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, spokesperson for the LP-led coalition, said “there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that there are VCMs in Novotel.”

“First of all, the COMELEC has fully accounted for all VCMs, each of which has a unique ID that allows the COMELEC to know where it is. This means it is impossible for anyone to misplace these machines,” Gutierrez said.

“Secondly, the basis of the statement of Henrietta de Villa of the PPCRV is mere rumor, completely bereft of basis and substance. We also question the timing of this statement, releasing it exactly on Election Day and not earlier,” he added.

De Villa earlier said she personally received information that there were VCMs in rooms at the seventh floor of Novotel.

Novotel is located at the Araneta Center in Cubao, which is owned by the family of LP standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Gutierrez said the LP supports any possible investigation on the matter.

“We expect Ms. De Villa to give the precinct numbers of the alleged VCMs. Should she fail to do so, we expect Ms. De Villa to issue an apology and attestation of the truth with the same enthusiasm and alacrity she displayed in repeating this rumor,” Gutierrez said.

“Like all Filipinos, we support honest and credible elections. Spreading baseless and unsubstantiated rumors is not only irresponsible, but also illegal as it undermines the credibility of the electoral process,” he added.

Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista also went to Novotel before noon to check the reported VCMs supposedly stored inside the hotel.—Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News