Gringo: Uprising is last thing RP needs

DAVAO CITY — Any uprising at this time is the last thing the country needs as people await the results of the national elections, opposition Sen. Gregorio Honasan said yesterday.

"Any source of instability, uprising, rebellion and secessionist movement will not do the country any good. It is the last thing that we need," Honasan told The STAR.

Honasan figured prominently in the people power revolt that toppled the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. He was implicated in several coup attempts against the administration of Corazon Aquino. He was also charged with rebellion in connection with the May 1 riots in 2001 and implicated in the Oakwood mutiny last year.

Honasan arrived here Thursday to accompany Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. in a tour of Mindanao to gather evidence of fraud allegedly committed by the administration. The senator is acting as the chief security officer of the KNP.

"We cannot afford any uprising at this time," Honasan stressed.

The opposition lawmaker, however, pointed out that a clear mandate is needed by anybody who will emerge the winner in the recent presidential elections.

"The only one who can offer peace, reconciliation and unity is the one who has a clear mandate to govern, be it President Arroyo or Fernando Poe Jr.," he said.

Honasan said he will support and work closely on the peace and reconciliation program of whoever will be declared the next President.

Honasan cited his earlier agreement with Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), in which the outgoing senator represented the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (PGBI).

"I got into that agreement believing that whoever wins must have a clear mandate that is derived from a clean, credible and honest elections," he said.

Honasan said he went around the country to purposely check on the PGBI members in their "Bantay Balota" project documenting cases of electoral fraud.

"Basically, what we do is gather evidence and pass them on to the KNP lawyers so that they can evaluate their usefulness as evidence," he said.

Honasan said PGBI has also been comparing notes with De Venecia on cases of election fraud brought to their attention.

Among the most rampant cases, Honasan said, were those of disenfranchised voters, vote-buying, use of government resources for the campaign as well as threat and intimidation.

Honasan made the statement amid reports that some supporters of Poe are gearing up for mass actions to stop the proclamation of President Arroyo by Congress.

Poe claimed he was the winner in the last May 10 presidential elections but the administration ridiculed him by pointing out that only Congress has the power to proclaim the winner in the recent polls.