KNP to sue K-4 officials for alleged electioneering

Officials of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) are set to file charges of electioneering against leaders of the pro-administration Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) for allegedly pressuring police and Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials to support President Arroyo.

The charges will be filed after the Holy Week.

"We’ve been receiving persistent reports that government officials, particularly national leaders of the K-4 have been conducting secret meetings with local Comelec officials and chiefs of police in municipalities," said Horacio Morales, president of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, a component of KNP.

"We heard the message was to make GMA win at all costs, and that can be considered as electioneering."

Quoting reports, Morales said police chiefs in Metro Manila and Comelec officials in Mindanao have been summoned to a meeting by Arroyo administration officials.

Meanwhile, Morales said the KNP executive committee has agreed to finalize the party’s list of local candidates by April 15.

"We expect to have more defections from the administration going over to our side in the coming days," he said. — Paolo Romero