Resigned Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri urged former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to respond to allegations of cheating during the 2007 elections.
“May mga alegasyon na lumalabas [at] dapat sagutin nila ‘yan. Kaya naman nilang sagutin iyan, mayroon naman silang mga abugado," said Zubiri in an interview aired Thursday on GMA News’ “24 Oras."
Thursday at the Department of Justice (DOJ), former Police Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago submitted his sworn affidavit on the alleged operation to switch election returns (ER) from the 2004 presidential elections.
However, Santiago, contrary to his previous statement last week, did not identify in his affidavit the former first gentleman as the “financier" of the alleged ER switching.
In his previous statement, Santiago said Mr. Arroyo was the financier of the operation to tamper with the results of the 2004 elections.
Also on Thursday, the DOJ and the Commission on Elections launched their joint investigation of the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections. They formed the joint committee that will conduct the probe.
Zubiri quits electoral protest
Zubiri was part of Team Unity, the coalition the Arroyo administration organized for the 2007 elections.
He announced his resignation as senator during a privilege speech on Wednesday. His victory in the 2007 midterm elections continues to be questioned before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).
Thursday afternoon, Zubiri withdrew his counter-protest against an electoral protest Atty. Aquilino “Koko" Pimentel III filed four years ago.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Fraud revealed
Allegations of cheating during the 2007 elections were revived anew when Maguindanao massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol came forward, accusing Arroyo and the former first gentleman of electoral fraud.
Ampatuan claimed that the Arroyos gave orders to lessen votes for senatorial opposition candidates, including then-Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III, then-Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, and re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
The votes taken from the opposition candidates would then be added on to the votes of Arroyo’s senatorial bets. Ampatuan alleged that Zubiri, who was part of the administration’s ticket, benefited from the alleged fraud.
Meanwhile, Bedol accused former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos of orchestrating the cheating in 2007, saying that Abalos, along with Comelec Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Rene Sarmiento doctored election returns from Maguindanao.
Wednesday evening on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation," Pimentel said Bedol’s and Ampatuan’s revelations were signs of “God’s hand at work."
Team Unity didn’t know
Zubiri claimed that none of the senators under Team Unity knew of any plans to cheat in Maguindanao.
“In fairness to the former President, wala po siyang sinabi sa amin na ganon," said Zubiri.
In a press conference held shortly after Ampatuan and Bedol emerged, Zubiri denied any knowledge of the alleged poll rigging, asking the public to wait for the SET’s ruling.
In the “24 Oras" interview, Zubiri admitted that he first thought of resigning when Bedol and Ampatuan made their revelations of wholesale elections fraud.
“Mas mabuti nalang na magbitiw na ako sa puwesto dahil nakakahiya at baka sabihin pa ng mga tao na wala akong delikadesa," he said.
Following Zubiri’s resignation, the Senate agreed on a new rule that would make the resignation of any members of the chamber irrevocable.
According to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, old Senate rules required senators to vote before accepting a senator’s resignation.
The real 12th winning senator
Pimentel may be declared the real 12th winning senator as early as next week, according to Senator Edgardo Angara, GMA News TV’s “News To Go" reported Thursday morning.
Angara is a member of the SET.
Zubiri’s withdrawal of the counter-protest, Angara explained, could be the “trigger" that will complete the SET’s ruling on Pimentel’s protest.
“Based on the count now, [Pimentel] is ahead of the vote count," Angara said while noting that it is the Comelec that will officially proclaim Pimentel as the 12th senator, as well as administer his oath. — With Bea Cupin and Earl Rosero/VS,
