Abalos co-accused denies rigging 2007 polls

MANILA, Philippines - A former provincial election supervisor yesterday denied rigging the results of the 2007 polls in North Cotabato in favor of the senatorial candidates of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lilia Radam showed up at the hearing on her petition to be discharged as co-accused of former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos in the electoral sabotage raps filed before the Pasay City regional trial court.

Radam, who has been under the government’s witness protection program, reiterated that officers of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) forced her to sign the statement of votes before they were submitted to the National Board of Canvassers.

She said the ISAFP officers prepared the tampered election results that showed that Team Unity senatorial candidates won the polls. Radam said Abalos ordered the altering of votes in North Cotabato.