2016 'Electoral Fraud:' Senate to probe after local polls

CEBU, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said they will start investigating the alleged fraud in the 2016 elections only after the May 14 SK and barangay polls.

Sotto was in Cebu to celebrate the 141st birth anniversary of Don Vicente Yap Sotto, the father of Cebuano journalism, language, and literature at the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum yesterday.

The event spearheaded by the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) was attended by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Cebu City officials and department heads, officials of the Philippine National Police-7, members of Sotto clan and several guests.

Sotto, who recently delivered a privilege speech at the Senate exposing the alleged illegal early transmission of votes, wants the reported poll fraud investigated.

"But with some consultations, I have suggested that Senator Gordon will conduct an investigation after the barangay and SK elections because the Comelec will be very busy and will not be able to attend our hearings," Sotto said.

He said that his impeccable source has seen that six candidates benefitted the illegal early transmission of votes.

"But I won't tell the six names yet because I have not seen it. It is still hearsay as of now," Sotto said adding that the result of the 2016 elections, won't affect President Rodrigo Duterte's victory in the presidential race.

The Senator, in his speech during the event, said that barely out of his grandfather's teenage days, he already established La Justicia, the first newspaper in Cebu. He also published El Nacional.

Both newspapers were fearless in their campaign for Philippine independence.

"My Lolo carried his faith in the power of the pen through his stint at the Senate. His monumental piece of legislation was authoring the Press Freedom Law, now known as the Sotto Law," the senator said.

He said that throughout the lifetime of his grandfather, the latter had been an ardent advocate of the freedom of the press, without which we will not be savoring the fruits of democracy as we know it today.

“As his grandson, I am humbled by his gift to the Filipino nation. I am proud of the name that I carry and constantly the right inspiration from the record of his work as a journalist and a politician, his bravery in fighting for our independence. So may I humbly enjoin everyone in this hall to join me in paying tribute to the first and original senator Sotto by all accounts he was unbending, unyielding and uncompromising in his principles,” Vicente Sotto III added.

The late Sotto authored the Press Freedom Law which is now known as “Sotto Law” or the Republic Act No. 53 “An Act Exempting the Publisher, Editor or Reporter of any Publication from revealing the Source of Published News or Information Obtained in Confidence.”

He had served the Philippine Senate from 1946 to 1950. He died on March 25, 1950.

As a tribute, a hospital in Cebu City was named after him, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“The annual celebration aims to reminisce and highlight the significant contributions brought by the Father of Cebuano Journalism, Language and Literature and his efforts of liberalization against colonization,” stated Cebu City Museum on its Facebook page.

Former President Carlos P. Garcia described the former senator as “a rock of Gibraltar in character because of the ruggedness of his conviction, the indomitability of his soul, the sublimity of his courage, and the depth of his faith in the ultimate triumph of justice. His knees no bending, his pen signed no retraction, his march saw no retreat, and his soul of steel knows no surrender.”

Meanwhile, Sotto has given a “two thumbs up” for outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for his two-year leadership. —/GAN (FREEMAN)