Bayan Muna secretary general Nathaniel Santiago, the official cited in the report as the one who visited the deposed leader in his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, said such reports are "untrue."
"No such meeting occurred with the former president," Santiago said. "Neither was there any donation solicited by or given to us. Such intrigue could only come from the administration’s dirty tricks department."
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said the intrigue is an example of squid tactics "to divert public attention from the administration’s intention and plans to massively cheat in the midterm elections."
"Everyone, except for this ‘Hello Garci’ administration, is interested in honest elections. Most people want to cooperate to foil cheating and fraud," Casiño said in a statement.
"We will pursue cooperation with the opposition at various levels and in various forms to protect our votes. Such a response is natural in the face of the administration’s all-out efforts to win by hook or by crook," he said.
An official who requested anonymity revealed earlier that Bayan Muna asked for P40 million from Estrada to finance a poll watchdog to protect the votes of Genuine Opposition senatorial candidates and to deliver the so-called command votes from their supporters. – Delon Porcalla