Magdalo backs Villar

CEBU, Philippines - The Magdalo group, which has 67,000 members across the country, has announced yesterday that it is supporting the candidacy of Senator Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party.

In a press conference yesterday, the group also bared that it received a military intelligence report that compact flashcards will be used in the cheating during the elections.

Magdalo spokesman and Cebu City north district congressional candidate Ashley Acedillo said as early as March, they already heard a report about the flashcards to be used in the cheating.

Acedillo said they did not take the report seriously until the Commission on Elections recently announced that it recalled thousands of defective flashcards.

But Acedillo, who refused to divulge the name of the source of their intelligence report, said they don’t know the extent of the possible cheating using the flashcards.

Yesterday, an operation called “Oplan Rafael” or Operation Arroyo through Failure of Election,” which is designed to stay President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power, was revealed.

Acedillo, however, said that he has no idea about the operation.

Acedillo said that Magdalo is pushing for the elections on Monday but if the Comelec is not ready, the poll body should announce it immediately.

“They (Comelec) really have to announce as early as now, kung kaya ba nila or dili. These flashcards which are the focal point of this election brings a lot of fear to us. Other flashcards were burned while some were recycled. That field test is a test of the cheating operation but nagkaguliyang man and they were forced to admit that something is wrong with the flashcards,” Acedillo said.

He claimed that there was really an attempt to cheat but refrained to accuse any presidential candidate.

“It is this current dispensation who will benefit from it. We supposed none among the presidentiables is risking the wrath of the Filipino people if there will be massive cheating,” he said.

Acedillo stressed they are supporting Villar’s candidacy since they believed in his leadership and competence to lead this country, especially in eradicating poverty.

He said Villar has a clear vision as to what he will do once elected into office. Aside from Villar, Magdalo is also supporting Senator Loren Legarda for vice president.

Magdalo’s senatorial lineup includes Colonel Ariel Querubin, General Danilo Lim, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Toots Ople, Gilbert Remulla, Adel Tamano, Ruffy Biazon, Tito Sotto, JV Bautista and Joey de Venecia.

Meanwhile, the Visayan Electric Company Inc. is outsourcing eight groups of electricians/contractors to attend to load side problems in northern and southern Cebu, and Cebu City during the elections.

 This is in addition to the eight VECO emergency crews assigned to secure the distribution lines.— /LPM (THE FREEMAN)