By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — Lawyers of the Genuine Opposition (GO) Tuesday quit the scandal-ridden Maguindanao vote canvassing and Bayan Muna’s chief legal counsel staged a walkout, charging the proceedings were meant to “legitimize” fraudulent vote tallies.
A special board of canvassers is retabulating the tallies — or municipal certificates of canvass (CoCs) — from 22 towns to determine who between the administration’s Team Unity (TU) candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri and GO’s Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III would take the 12th Senate slot in the midterm elections.
As of Tuesday, partial results of the retabulation of tallies from five towns showed Zubiri with 56,865 votes and Pimentel III with 23,466.
In Manila, the Supreme Court Tuesday held back from issuing a temporary restraining order to stop the contentious Maguindanao vote count until it had heard from the Commission on Elections and Zubiri.
A court spokesperson said the tribunal hoped the Comelec would not do anything in the meantime to preempt the court’s decision.
The court scheduled oral arguments for 2 p.m. on Thursday on Pimentel’s petition to stop the canvassing and exclude the votes from Maguindanao in the Senate tabulation.
“These proceedings are loaded. They are meant to legitimize the Bedol CoC, maybe bawasan ng konti ang mga boto (shave the votes a bit) … Solved na si Zubiri,” a frustrated Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna lawyer, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer after he walked out of the provincial capitol’s session hall where the canvassing was being held.
Colmenares was referring to Maguindanao’s controversial election supervisor Lintang Bedol, who claimed he had lost to thieves the first copies of the Maguindanao CoCs.
Colmenares abandoned the proceedings hours after GO counsel Sixto Brillantes and Leila de Lima left for Manila, saying they had to attend to other election cases.
But De Lima left with a parting shot.
She pointed out to the special provincial board of canvassers the discrepancies in the votes received by Senator-elect Antonio Trillanes IV in tallies from Gen. SK Pendatun town.
De Lima said these could be “additional evidence that the municipal CoC was manufactured.”
The board spent much of their discussions Tuesday on the party-list issue and could tabulate only the senatorial tallies from Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Pagagawan. The board tabulated results from only three towns the other day.
Colmenares walked out after the board, led by Comelec lawyer Emilio Santos, denied Bayan Muna’s objection to the retabulation of votes in 16 municipalities where the total votes cast for party-list groups overshot the total number of registered voters.
Santos explains
Colmenares said that among these towns was Pagalungan, where counting of votes only took place in 19 of its 57 precincts, according to a report of school district supervisor Musa Dimasidsing.
Dimasidsing was later gunned down in Lanao del Norte province.
Colmenares wanted the board to defer the canvassing — as what it did to the Shariff Aguak CoC on Monday — because of the discrepancies.
But Santos told the Inquirer that the board’s only mandate was to canvass Maguindanao’s municipal CoCs as long as they appeared regular on their face.
“We cannot go beyond that,” Santos said.
Santos said that all objections regarding vote discrepancies could be raised before the National Board of Canvassers subcommittee for party-lists.
Santos said the special canvassing would continue and be considered legitimate even without representatives from the opposition and the party-list as they had been duly notified of the proceedings.
According to the Comelec’s last official tabulation in Manila, Pimentel leads Zubiri by more than 111,000 votes, without counting Maguindanao.
Lawyers from both camps agree that Zubiri would jump to 12th place if the Maguindanao votes are tabulated. In an unofficial Maguindanao tally shown by lawyers to reporters, Zubiri has 195,823 votes and Pimentel 67,057.
Maguindanao became a center of controversy after several school teachers in the town of Pagalungan told media and poll watchdog groups that armed men had seized their ballot boxes and filled out the ballots with the names of TU candidates, to ensure a 12-0 administration win in the province.
If Zubiri wins …
If Zubiri wins because of Maguindanao, Colmenares said “it would affect the credibility of his election.”
TU lead counsel George Garcia said nothing could change the mind of the opposition that the Maguindanao votes were rigged.
“When the canvassing began, that was already in their minds. You can’t change that anymore. Their thinking has always been the result is false, a hoax. What can we do?” Garcia said.
Garcia said that after perusal of the 22 CoCs, he was convinced that these were genuine and authentic documents.
Moreover, checking the vote tallies, Garcia said he saw that several towns gave more votes to GO candidates than to TU candidates.
In its resolution, the Supreme Court directed the Comelec and Zubiri, if he desires, to file their comments on Pimentel’s petition by noon on Thursday.
The high court said it would only be fair to get the side of the Comelec and Zubiri before issuing any TRO since there were factual and legal matters in Pimentel’s petition that needed to be resolved first.
“Accordingly, and considering the presumptive regularity of the Comelec’s assailed actions and the processes emanating therefrom, it is only fair that the Court, before it considers the propriety of issuing a TRO, accords the Comelec an opportunity to be heard by way of a written comment,” it said in a June 26 resolution.
Don’t preempt court ruling
Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said the high court was banking on the poll body not to do anything that would make the court’s action useless, when asked if the issue could be rendered moot should the Comelec finished the canvassing of Maguindanao votes before Thursday.
“We are hoping that with the order of the court, they will act accordingly and will not do anything to preempt the decision of the high court,” Marquez told reporters.
“The fact that the case is being set for oral argument would be enough for the Comelec to act accordingly.”
In a 13-page petition, reelected opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked the Comelec to dissolve the special provincial board of canvassers (SPBOC) for Maguindanao on grounds it was illegally created.
Lacson also asked the Comelec to not to canvass anymore the results from the Maguindanao, nullify the board’s proceedings and quickly proclaim the last winning senator.
Lacson said the Comelec en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, did not have the authority to form the SPBOC, that its creation was not needed and that the Commission committed grave abuse of discretion when it turned over the second copies of the municipal vote tallies it gathered from Maguindanao to the SPBOC for retabulation. With reports from Leila B. Salaverria and Jerome Aning
The fact the Supreme Court thru its spokesman had warned Comelec not to preempt the court’s ruling on Koko Pimentel’s petition should be enough for Abalos to come forward and signify their intention to respect the Supreme Court. But it seems, it’s falling to deaf ears as the special board of canvassers, apparently under strict orders from above, continue retabulating the COCs and presumably in a hurry to finish it and declare Zubiri as the winner. The opposition lawyers did the right thing in quitting over this overzealousness of the board to legitimize the votes marred by fraud and tainted with blood of Musa Dimasaling.
We hope the Supreme Court justices will come up with dispatch with a timely decision in favor of Koko Pimentel in order to stop once for and for all this Comelec people commit a monumental blunder. We’re afraid the longer the impasse, the highly charged atmsphere might end up to a bloody confrontation. But thank God for I feel that the honorable justices know what to do for their eyes are not close to what’s happening. I would like to think that they are about to consign this shameless cabal of cheaters into the hall of shame.
In the meantime, let’s read the latest from the Professional Heckler on Lintang Bedol:
Bedol Guns
Controversial Maguindanao provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol says he owns a Magnum .357, four pistols and some 20 baby Armalites. Now… those who believe that Bedol is a cheater, raise your right hand.
Bedol’s Guns II
Maguindanao provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol admitted to owning at least 25 guns. But considering the number of people who want to see him dead, Bedol might actually need more.
Arresting Bedol
Saying he was guilty of contempt, the Commission on Elections issued an arrest order against Maguindanao provincial elections supervisor Lintang Bedol. The Comelec is now looking for a volunteer who is brave enough to serve the arrest order.
“Garcia said that after perusal of the 22 CoCs, he was convinced that these were genuine and authentic documents.”
who cares if these CoCs are genuine or manufactured? all the people know is that COMOLEC share-man abalaos is acting on what gloria MAKAGARAPAL arroyo wants to happen – INSTALL tsugiri as the 12th senator, BY HOOK or BY CROOK!
Mrivera,
Cumolec maybe right when it said those Cocs are genuine. What they really mean is that the paper is genuine but they said nothing about what is written unto them.
The data that these CoCs contained, as the world already know, are not really authentic figures reflective of the actual votes cast if indeed there was an election held at those areas.
Papel lang ang genuine, ang nakasulat HINDI!
Sampot:
Parang Philippine passport ha! Genuine ang passport issued by the DFA, pero ang pangalan ng may dala ng passport, peke! Ano ba iyan, puro peke. Maliban na lang doon sa mga boto para kay Senator Trillanes and Koko Pimentel, Sure ako diyan walang daya!!! Time to right the wrong. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!!!
O baka umentrada na naman si Mr. Noted ha. Sasabihin genuine iyong papel, at eentrada na naman sila ng “Noted!”
Ingatan din itong si JdV kurakot! Nakakahiya ang mamang pangit na ito. Hindi pa mag-retire para mabawasan na ang mga walanghiya sa gobyerno. Out with these crooks, puede ba?
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
sampot,
parang silang mga nangungumisyon-er. genuine ang ulo, pero hindi ang laman ng UTAK. pero….. meron pa ba sila noon?
in short, MGA WALANG KAHIHIYAN!
Quezon election official kills self
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau
Last updated 03:32pm (Mla time) 06/27/2007
LUCENA CITY, Philippines — A municipal election officer assigned to the island town of Polilio in northern Quezon committed suicide early Tuesday in his home in Catanauan town in the Bondoc Peninsula area, police said Wednesday.
Superintendent Renato Alba, Catanauan police chief, identified the victim as Jay Salvacion, 32, a resident of poblacion Barangay (village) 9.
Alba said Salvacion was found hanging from a rope inside the bathroom by his wife at about 5:30 a.m.
“The wife told the police that her husband suffered tremendous pressure in the last election especially during the canvassing of votes in Polilio. Apparently, there had been a mix-up in the declaration of winners among local candidates,” Alba told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, over the phone.
He said the victim, a former Catanauan health officer, recently returned to his hometown troubled and dejected.
http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=73531
ang taong hindi makayanan ang surot ng kunsensiya ay humahanap ng kalutasan at katahimikan sa PAGKITIL ng sariling buhay!
Just read in the latest news release that Malacanang through secretary Ermita is offering Election Official Bedol “protection” is he asks for it. This particular official so important that no less than the President offering him protection from what? Question: Is the palace giving him (Bedol)some hints that whatever his knowledge regarding the garci case, he better shut up or…??? No wonder Mr. Bedol was so defensive and refused to even surrender to the Comelec, he may have an Ace up his sleeves. but then against the Palace, its either take the money and nothing else… so take the money and lots of it and give me some of it mr. lintang bedol ka…
Halos mangiyak-ngiyak si Atty. Sixto Brillantes ng paglalahad sa nangyayaring pagmamani-obra sa magiging resulta ng #12 slot sa Pagka-Senador.
Nasabi niya na ginawa na sa kanila iyan noong Mayo 2004 – halalan ng pagka-pangulo at pangalawang-pangulo. Iyan ang malawakang pandaraya na ginawa ng harap-harapan (ang mga gumanap ng papel noon ay sila din sa ngayon!). Hindi na daw nila papayagang maganap muli.
Sa aking palagay ay talagang mukhang mayroong hawak na alas itong si Lintang Bedol. Matigas at halos hindi natitinag sa mga pananakot ni Commissioner Ferrer, eh.
Siguro nga ay hawak nitong si Lintang Pedol ang mga yagbols ng mga COMELEC Commissioners. Kung babagsak siya ay kakanta na siya ng “My Way”. Sabay-sabay ng magbabagsakan ang may kinalaman sa dayaan! Kaya ganoon na lang ang alalay ni Edong Ermita sa kanya dahil isa rin siya sa character actor noong 2004, eh.
Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, etc in Mindanao are on the spotlight today. These places were the stepping stones of so many on the 2004 polls. Perhaps we will concentrate to watch these places next election. Plan how.
Vic, I mentioned the same thing you just said about Bedol in a previous thread, that maybe he knows so much about the cheating operations that he is acting like he could do anything and nobody can question what he does. Now he is even being offered protection by none other that the PALACE occupants. It is very obvious that he is the “GARCI” remake!
I just read earlier too that the expert who studied the Garci tape had a car accident and died. See, this is God’s way of saying enough is enough and everyone who commits crime against his fellow men and can get away with it in man made laws will end up DEAD somehow.
One man army pala si Bedol. Matatalo si Rambo. He seems to hold Four aces and the wild card.
PSB:
Si Garci at Bedol ay parang iisang tao lang. Same modus operandi, and now being given protection by the mastermind being allowed to rule and run the country like hell!
Golly, kung ano ang mukha, siyang ugali! Ang papangit! Funny, pero bakit nga ba magkakamukha ang mga iyan na akala mo magkakapatid starting from the guy now trying to make pretty-pretty slimming down at taxpayers’ expense!!!
Puede ba PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
All eyes now on the Supreme Court.
If it does not act to stop the abomination being done by the Comelec, then it’s definitely the spark that detonates the powder keg.
Abalos, if you think all that footdragging and waffling has worn us down, you are in for one rude surprise you and your boss will never forget.
Never again will we allow crooks like you to defile the sanctity of our votes.
Consider yourself warned.
Maguindanao votes will determine the 12th senator of the republic. Everybody knows that municipal election returns were manufactured. It does not represent the true will of the people. Thousands of votes were bastardized by election officials who are mandated to protect votes. The issue is systematic electoral fraud. We hope that the Supreme Court magistrates will decide based on merits.
“Hanggang may lumalapastangan sa sagradong boto ng kahit isa lamang mamamayan, hindi pa rin tayo malaya,” Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno 06/12/2007
Comelec wants proclamation of 12th Senate winner before June 30
Malacañang offers Bedol protection
By Sherwin C. Olaes
06/28/2007
Maguindanao provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol, who is claimed wanted by the poll body for his refusal to heed its summons, is now being offered protection by President Arroyo, through her chief aide.
In a bizarre twist to the case of Bedol, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday announced that Malacañang is ready to extend protection to Bedol if his case concerns his safety and if he asks for it.
Ermita’s assurance came after reports were out that Malacañang, through presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol, made it clear Tuesday that President Arroyo was dumping Bedol, with Apostol saying Malacañang does not want to be associated in any way with Bedol, stressing that Bedol’s case is of no concern to the President, and that the Comelec can do what it pleases with Bedol, by way of prosecuting or
firing him.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/20070628/headlines/20070628hed1.html
ano ang kanilang kinatatakutan at ganito na lamang ang pagsasaalang-alang nila sa “kaligtasan” ng lintang si bedol?
is there an ace in bedol’s CARDS UNDER THE TABLE?