Joint DOJ-Comelec panel starts poll sabotage hearings

MANILA, Philippines - The joint investigating panel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) today ordered former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and others implicated in the cheating of the 2007 elections to submit counter-affidavits until November 14 to file their counter-affidavits before panel.

During this afternoon's preliminary investigation at the DOJ main office in Manila, DOJ-Comelec panel head Claro Arellano also told the lawyers to submit their respective motions so that the panel could resolve it before the deadline lapses.

The former president and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, were represented by their lawyers during today's hearing.

The two Arroyos are being investigated for electoral sabotage charges in connection with the alleged rigging of the results of the 2007 elections, particularly the results of the senatorial elections.

The others who attended the preliminary investigation were lawyer John Michael Galauran, legal counsel of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and counsels of other respondents-- including former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.and ex-poll Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

Former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero, Mrs. Arroyo's legal counsel, said they would like to contest the propriety of the issues surrounding the creation of the fact-finding body.

"We would like to challenge the jurisdiction of this committee. Will that stop the running of the period?" Tuquero asked Arellano, who replied that the period of filing of the counter affidavits stays.

The former First Gentleman's lawyers also said they would question the creation of the fact-finding body.

During the start of the preliminary investigation, the representatives of the respondents have been furnished copies of the panel report and the complaint affidavits, which dragged several former government and election officials in the massive fraud in 2007 in Maguindanao and North and South Cotabato.

One of the complainants, Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said the fact-finding panel members should not be swayed by the respondents' lawyers which could derail the proceedings.

"Sana huwag silang magpapadala para ma delay ang proceedings," Pimentel told reporters during the sidelines of the hearing.

The other personalities implicated in the alleged cheating of the 2007 mid-term elections' results were former justice secretary Alberto Agra,former regional election director for Soccksargen Michael Abas, Colonel Reuben Basiao, former ISAFP director for Soccsksargen; ISAFP Major Joey Leaban, lawyer Jaime Paz, chief of staff of Abalos, Romy Dayday (PSG) and Jeremy Javier (ISAFP).

Also implicated were Jeehan Nur, Alice Lim, Norijean Hangkal, Christina Dalope and Maceda Abo, Estelita Orbase, Elisa Gasmin, Elsa Atinen, Saliao Amba, Magsaysay Mohamad, Asuncion Reniedo, Nena Alid, Ma. Susan Albano, Rohaida Khalid, Araw Cao, Salonga Edzela, Ragah Ayunan, Susan Cabanban, Russam Mabang.