Querubin: Marines involved in 2004 poll fraud

MANILA, Philippines - Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin yesterday alleged that Marines were involved in ballot snatching and other fraudulent acts in the 2004 elections supposedly on orders of their officers, a number of whom are now willing to testify before the Truth Commission.

Querubin also alleged that soldiers were ordered to fill out election reports in Lanao del Sur, but that these anomalies were never investigated because nobody among the officers were willing to testify.     

“That was the first time in Marine history that they were used to commit election fraud,” Querubin told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel news forum in Quezon City.

Querubin recalled that a US Navy officer told him about an alleged ballot snatching in Tawi-Tawi, although the officer was immediately sent back to the United States after the 2004 polls.

Querubin said he reported the alleged incident to the chain of command but that no action was taken.

He said he also reported it to the Senate committee on national defense then headed by former senator Rodolfo Biazon, but that there were no results, too.

Querubin said he is willing to testify before the Truth Commission to put a closure to the “Hello, Garci” controversy.

He said military officers who were involved in the 2004 electoral fraud must be investigated and held responsible for their actions.