Failure of elections sought in San Juan

The winning Puwersa ng Masa (PnM) party in San Juan dared their rivals yesterday to prove their charges of massive fraud in last Monday’s congressional and local elections.

This developed as San Juan opposition parties joined forces to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare a failure of election, alleging massive vote-buying and harassment by the Estrada-backed Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Partido ng Masang Pilipino (LDP-PnM) in an effort to regain control of the smallest municipality in Metro Manila.

The United Opposition of San Juan (LP) led by Rep. Jose Mari Gonzales said systematic cheating took place during last Monday’s polls especially when there were power outages that gripped several areas in San Juan, particularly in Pinaglabanan elementary school were the counting of ballots was held.

"It is very clear that our opponents used coercion and activated their dirty tricks department to see to it that the municipality which they treat as their own small kingdom remains under their control," Gonzales said.

In an indignation rally the other day, attended by candidates of both the United Opposition and the People Power Coalition (PPC) headed by Ronald Estrella, the opposition said they will all file their respective election protests against the extensive electoral fraud that happened in San Juan.

But congressional bet Ronaldo Zamora and mayoral bet, former presidential son Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said they are giving their full support to their rivals’ calls for an investigation as they enjoined them to accept defeat gracefully once they fail to prove that they committed massive fraud.

Zamora and Ejercito were leading their rivals in the unofficial partial election returns released by Comelec. As of 12:40 p.m. yesterday, Zamora garnered 1,848 votes as against Estrella of the People’s Power Coalition (PPC) and Gonzales, of the Liberal Party with 1,368 and 653 votes, respectively. – Non Alquitran