Noli wants Congress to probe poll fraud

Vice President Noli de Castro wants Congress to investigate allegations that President Arroyo was involved in massive fraud in last year’s presidential election to erase doubts from the minds of the people.

Speaking to reporters at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila, lawyer Jesse Andres, De Castro’s chief of staff, said the Vice President is in favor of pursuing the truth about the wiretapped conversation, which Mrs. Arroyo admitted took place between her and an election official.

"Naturally, the Vice President respects the admission, but it doesn’t end there," he said.

"There are different interpretations. There’s no process now. Only one body could decide. Our position is that the people have the right to know, to redress grievances and to peaceful assembly."

Andres said De Castro will not oppose any move to file an impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo before the House of Representatives, although he will not initiate nor support such action.

"One, it’s quite unethical for him to do it since under the Constitution he is the successor (to Mrs. Arroyo)," he said.

"And they may challenge his motives. Second, he believes the President needs support and he can’t be part of a movement to derail the government. He’ll continue what he has to do."

Andres said De Castro is qualified and ready to assume the presidency in case Mrs. Arroyo steps down.

"It should be emphasized that the Vice President is very much ready and qualified to assume if or when there’s a vacancy," he said.

"He’s the only one who holds the mandate of the people. Siya lang ang tanggap ng masa (He’s the only one acceptable to the masses) and he can bridge the gap between people and the government because of his mass appeal."

Meanwhile, Andres and Romulo Macalintal, De Castro’s counsel dared former senator Loren Legarda to identify before the Supreme Court new areas where she was allegedly cheated in favor of De Castro.

However, Avelino Cruz, Legarda’s lawyer, said De Castro’s camp was mistaken if they thought the evidence she presented to the media would be among the documents she planned to submit to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

"The areas cited by Loren during the press conference were just samples to show the people the massive cheating in favor of Mr. De Castro," he said.

"We have found no need to include these areas cited in the press conference since the areas identified by Loren in her formal protest before the PET are enough to overhaul Mr. De Castro’s supposed winning margin."

The proper recount of the votes would bear out the truth that it was Legarda who won the vice presidential elections, Cruz said.

The PET has required Legarda to post P11.34 million to pay for the evaluation of 22,679 ballot boxes from six provinces that she identified as examples of irregularities last year’s elections.

In an en banc resolution, the Supreme Court said the P11.3 million is "without prejudice to its recomputation" for the ballot boxes which are broken down into the regions of Lanao del Sur, 1,568 ballot boxes; Lanao del Norte, 2,317; Surigao del Sur, 1,454; Cebu City, 10,127; Pampanga, 5,458; and Maguindanao, 1,755.

The High Court’s ruling came after the Commission on Elections, through Executive Director Pio Jose Joson, finally complied with a letter from the PET inquiring into the number of ballot boxes involved in the precincts in Surigao del Sur.

Early this month, the Supreme Court denied with finality a motion filed by Legarda to reduce the required cash deposit amount for her election protest against De Castro to proceed.

De Castro’s lawyers opposed Legarda’s motion and asked the PET to dismiss her protest if she refused to pay the required fees, which his lawyers estimated at P18.7 million.

Legarda had claimed that while PET rules require her to pay P500 per precinct involved for the three provinces where she alleged that cheating took place, the rules should be relaxed since it had been meant for a situation where ballots, as well as other election documents, would be examined.

Meanwhile, De Castro, reacting to movie star Susan Roces’ statement that "there are plans" in case Mrs. Arroyo refuses to step down, called on the public yesterday to be vigilant.

"In the coming days, we must be vigilant, and we must judge the situation with the guidance of prayers," he said in a statement.

"We must strive to get the whole truth through the principle that all must be given the chance to be heard before being judged as guilty." — Jose Rodel Clapano