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Ex-generals bare alleged vote-rigging plot by admin
 

Joel Guinto, INQUIRER.net, May 08, 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Retired generals have sounded the alarm over an alleged plan to rig the May 14 elections by 14 million votes in favor of administration senatorial candidates and warned that fresh accusations of election fraud could trigger another political crisis.

“Oplan Mercury Rising,” according to retired Navy Commodore Ismael Aparri, a convenor of the anti-election fraud coalition Bantay Boto (Vote Watch), would involve cheating in Western Visayas, Eastern Mindanao, Caraga, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sharif Kabunsuan.

Malacañang, through Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo, denied the existence of the alleged plot and blasted media for reporting on the retired generals’ disclosure without first checking on the veracity of the former officers’ claims.

At the same time, Saludo offered assurances that it was not government policy to use its personnel, whether soldiers or teachers, to influence the outcome of the elections.

Aparri said his group obtained the information from intelligence reports.

Under the alleged plot, provincial election supervisors, assistant regional election directors, and regional election directors in the identified cheating areas have been ordered to ensure that administration senatorial bets Michael Defensor, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Prospero Pichay take the top three of the 12 seats up for grabs, Aparri said.

He also claimed the cheating would involve the use of the military, citing “reports of verbal instructions from no less then the office of AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon to all military commanders to ensure a TU [TEAM Unity] 12-0 [victory] in their respective areas, especially in military camps where the canvassing of votes will be conducted.”

“We also have reports coming from Tarlac, Samar, and Davao Oriental that during absentee voting in the AFP between May 4 to 6, Army personnel were instructed to vote straight TU as per verbal order of CGPA (Commanding General of the Philippine Army Romeo Tolentino),” Aparri added.

The plot also allegedly involves "huge cash incentives" have also been offered to local government and election officials who could deliver a 12-0 sweep in favor of the administration's TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Unity senatorial slate, with a "bonus" for those who ensure no votes are cast for opposition senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano sought President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's impeachment in 2005 and 2006 on allegations of election fraud and corruption. He also exposed First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's alleged secret bank deposits in Germany.

“You know the policy of our government, to allow democracy full play and, of course, not use government personnel, whether soldiers or teachers, to influence the vote,” Saludo said in Filipino. “That is not our policy. Whoever violates [the sanctity of the vote] will most certainly be reported.”

He also urged the public and media to “scrutinize all these reports instead of publishing mere accusations at this time.”

“As I have said, the problem is, if you cannot tell if something is true or not, you have to examine it. Which is why I have said that, before we believe or do not believe in the news, let us examine if there is basis,” he said.

“It’s easy enough to do, call or talk to these people and see if they have any basis or proof,” he added. “You journalists, you know how to examine these kinds of reports, don’t you?”

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who was guest speaker at the Bantay Boto launch, pointed out what he called "signs" of cheating, including the reported deployment of soldiers to Camarines Sur province to ensure the victory of the President's son, Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo III, who is running for congressman there.

"God forbid, because if there is again massive cheating in the 2007 elections, this could trigger another round of political instability," Biazon said

Biazon, himself a former general and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, was referring to the "Hello Garci" scandal, when the leak of purportedly wiretapped conversations between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, which critics say proved she cheated her way to victory in 2004, triggered the most serious political crisis of her administration.

In the tapes, four senior military officers were mentioned, including incumbent Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

"We have barely recovered from the Garci tapes scandal, and yet we begin to hear reports that again cheating and unconstitutional acts are being committed to undermine the integrity of the electoral process," Biazon said.

The senator also noted the involvement of soldiers in a shootout with the camp of Bocaue, Bulacan mayoralty candidate Eduardo "Jonjon" Villanueva Jr., a son of evangelist and Arroyo critic Eduardo "Brother Eddie" Villanueva.

Biazon said there have also been reports of vote-buying in Muntinlupa City, where his son is running for congress.

"You cannot fight cheating by words alone. You cannot fight cheating by advocacies alone. You cannot fight cheating by rhetoric alone. You need people out there at least, if not at the precinct level," he said.

Meanwhile, retired lieutenant general Romeo Dominguez, who is also a member of Bantay Boto, warned that there will always be whistleblowers in the military should the leadership be accused again of involvement in cheating.

"The AFP as an organization is neutral. Don't forget, despite the chaos last time, we had Balutan and Gudani. They are not alone. There is a silent majority that you can rely on to be honorable," Dominguez said.

The retired officer was referring to Marine Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Balutan and retired Marine brigadier general Francisco Gudani. The two are facing court martial for testifying on the alleged 2004 cheating operations by the military at a Senate investigation in September 2005 without permission from their superiors.

Biazon presided over that investigation as chairman of the Senate committee on defense.

Addressing soldiers, Dominguez said: "My concern is the same; stick to the task -- honest, orderly, peaceful elections. If they see something or someone enlists them to do something, they should refuse these illegal actions and make a report."

Aparri said Bantay Boto members would deploy watchers to voting precincts. Biazon said he has volunteered to be a poll watcher for his son, reelectionist Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon.

Asked what Bantay Boto would do if its members witnessed cheating, Aparri said: "Right there, I would shoot them. But they are not ready to fight. We do the normal, legal process; our legal groups will report to the Comelec [Commission on Elections]."

Aparri added: "We go through the legal process. We exhaust all legal processes. Beyond that, the people will decide what they will do."

Aside from Yes Arms or the Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Military-Police for Solidarity, other groups under Bantay Boto include the Bagong Katipunan or Magdalo, the Grand Order of the Unified Guardians (GOUING), Para sa Bayan (PSB), Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. (PBGI), and the Soldiers and Police for Peace and Progress (SPP).

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AFP patriots,

make a stand

Herman Tiu Laurel, Tribune, 05/07/2007

The decent, principled and politically non-partisan senior and young officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines should make a stand now, silently or otherwise, on the matter of the offensively pro-Gloria generals now using the AFP as a tool of the powers that corrupt them to twist and misuse the institution. The exposé of Esperon’s illegal orders to the troops to campaign for Gloria’s party candidates by Capt. Antonio Trillanes IV made last Friday and the clash of Palparan’s soldiers with “Jonjon” Villanueva’s police security should be wake up calls.

 Esperon and Palparan’s moves, drawing the AFP into partisan politics has led to the apex of treason now — using the AFP against the people of the Philippines and causing death among our soldiers not in defense of the homeland but in defense of a kleptocractic, criminal and homicidal Gloria regime resulting in the corruption of the AFP. Our decent officers corps know what’s going on and how the corruption and decay are spreading in the AFP, how generals’ wives are not strutting around in their gleaming diamonds while the decent officers’ and soldiers’ families struggle and starve.

We know the decent officers also know, or at least suspect, that “mistahs” into Esperon’s plan has triggered the so-called “rogue” commander of the MNLF, who is suddenly “al-Qaeda-linked,” Ustadz Habier Malik and the new flames of war being fanned with recent attacks in Mindanao and the military responding in kind, are part of an elaborate cover for massive election cheating in Mindanao. By now, they also know that documents of Esperon’s illegal orders are being leaked by conscientious AFP officers to those who can speak out, such as retired officers, to be exposed to the public.

We have received reports from retired and active AFP officers of Esperon’s visit to camps demanding all soldiers vote straight TU or face dismissal. We call on all decent officers to be the people’s eyes and ears, to record anomalies especially at the transfer of ballot boxes and the ERs (election returns) to the municipal level (as President Estrada has forewarned) to be canvassed. The people need your help particularly in the ARMM areas where many localities will be under complete military control because of the cloak of the so-called threats from “al-Qaeda-linked” elements.

 While Trillanes and company are sacrificing for the struggle to restore genuine democratic governance, many former Honasan supporters such as Jun Lojero of Iloilo texted this: “Gringo should reveal & explain to d Filipino people what was d secret deal  his meting w/ gloria macapidal-arroyo. We feel disapointed w/ his latest action, it seems like a Tuta of somebody, for almost 10 years I personaly campaigning him.” Has Honasan given up the motto “The Dream shall never die?” Sadly, that’s what many now think. Many believe Honasan will vote Gloria’s way in the Senate if he gets there.

The last week before election day will see much slander and disinformation. Many of us have already witnessed the disgusting level of propaganda in Ramon Jacinto’s ad, demeaning himself and his own worthless station. I’m not surprised. RJ, a shameless minion of FVR and now attack dog of Mike Arroyo, once pulled a fast one with the PNB to defraud the people of billions. Last Saturday, Digs Dilangalen was victimized by false news — that he’d been found guilty of ballot snatching. It was a lie, “The case was dismissed long ago” Digs told me over the phone when I verified.

 It’s dirty tricks time and Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay got his rude surprise last Friday (when the courts are already closed for any redress) from shameless Ombudsman Merceditas Guiterrez appointee de la Gloria’s suspension order for the unbeatable incumbent. We don’t know what’s going to happen this morning as you read this column and the Binay suspension is again to be served, but what is clear is that its Gloria’s Lito Lapid that will feel the backlash. He’s been boasting in his rallies that Binay will be suspended just before the elections. Inquirer headlined: Palace asks Ombudsman: Explain Binay suspension — their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

 First thing Monday I’d want to defend the fort in Makati but Trillanes has a phone-patch “live” interview at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel. In the same forum, an exposé of Gloria’s campaign misspending will be made and Alan Cayetano will make a plea. Meanwhile, the march for Jonas Burgos was spiritedly attended; Erap 5’s Ruben Dionisio was transferred to the deplorable Quezon City Jail and I’m raising P 20,000.00 for his expenses (he suffered broken ribs in the hands of the Isapf composite team that most likely kidnapped Burgos too) — help, we need more volunteers and donors.

Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo was barred from the election due to Comelec’s claim he’s not Filipino – it’s a perennial problem, using farcical citizenship questions to bar the best leaders; the law must be changed. Thanks to student leaders of the UNITED OPPOSITION YOUTH MOVEMENT OF CARAGA REGION Rheyconn Lumain, Mary Anne Fernandez, Ceferino Edulan Jr., King Kimwell Dalingay, Mylene Cleofas, Jeson Resus, Chris Cordova, Candice Kristine Grana, Christine Nonan, Pearl Joy Salas, Myrtle Jumonong, Gringo Avanzado and Joey Aprosta. This is the army we need!

To AFP and PNP Officers:

REPORT CHEATING OPERATIONS

Text SOI at 0927-2216180

and email details, pictures and documents at bantayboto@gmail.com

BANTAY BOTO

     There are activities being planned and funded to alter the results of the May 14 election.

     We will not allow the fraud of the 2004 election to happen again.

      We call upon the AFP, the PNP and the COMELEC to do their sworn duty under the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines to stay neutral and non-partisan to ensure that the election is honest, clean, orderly, peaceful and reflects the sovereign will of the Filipino people.

     Against any and all attempts to subvert the election, we will use without hesitation all forces and resources at our disposal.

     This we declare and pledge before God, the Constitution and the Filipino people.

 Bagong Katipunan (BK / Magdalo)

 Federation of Retired Commissioned

       and Enlisted Personnel (FORCES)

Grand Order of the Unified Guardians

      (GOUNIG)

Para sa Bayan (PsB)

Philippine Guardians Brotherhood,

      Inc. (PGBI)

Soldiers and Police for Peace and

      Progress (SPP)

Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military-Police for Solidarity  (YES ARMS)

8 May 2007

bantayboto@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOI

Summary of Information

1.             Intelligence reports reveal the existence of OPLAN MERCURY RISING.

                The operational plan has identified the following specific areas where massive election fraud will be committed:

                A.  Ilocos Sur                          -     345,981  registered voters

                B.  Pampanga                          -  1,131,627

                C.  Camarines Norte                -     222,691

                D.  Cebu                                  -  2,104,738

                E.  Bohol                                  -     661,041

                F.  Leyte                                  -     940,738

                G.  Eastern Samar                   -     234,559

                H.  Lanao del Norte                 -     484,091

                I.    Davao del Sur                    -  1,232,053

                J.   Lanao del Sur                    -     396,722

                K.   Maguindanao                    -     336,774

                L.   Sharif Kabunsuan             -     198,280

                                                               -----------------

                                                                    8,289,295  registered voters (18.4%)

                A.  Region VI                           -  3,667,151  registered voters

                B.  Region XI                            -     994,552  (Total: 2,226,605)

                C.  CARAGA                            -  1,238,982

                D.  ARMM                                 -     572,248  (Total: 1,504,024)

                                                                -----------------

                                                                    6,472,933  registered voters (14.4%)

                                                                 ==========

                                Grand Total              - 14,762,228  (32.8% of total voters)

                The respective Provincial Election Supervisors (PES), Assistant Regional Election Directors (AREDs), and Regional Election Directors (REDs)in these provinces and regions were allegedly ordered to see to it that TU candidates Defensor, Zubiri and Pichay should rank in the first three slots in their respective areas.

                In this regard, the following PES are warned that we and our people will watch their every move until the final count is in.

                A.  Ilocos Sur                           -  Atty. Joel J. Gines

                B.  Pampanga                          -  Atty. Temie Lambino

                C.  Camarines Norte                -  Atty. Said Ali P. Maganduga

                D.  Cebu                                  -  Atty. Lionel Marco Castellano

                E.  Bohol                                  -  Atty. Veronico Petalcorin

                F.  Leyte                                  -  Atty. Andrew Bido

                G.  Eastern Samar                   -  Atty. Juan Bautista Beato

                H.  Davao del Sur                    -  Atty. Remlane Tambuang

                I.   Lanao del Norte                  -  Atty. Joseph H. Cuevas Banzon

                J.  Lanao del Sur                     -  Atty. Nasib D. Yasin

                K.  Maguindanao                     -  Atty. Lintang Bedol

                L.  Sharif Kabunsuan              -  Atty. Kasan P. Usi

                In the same manner, the following AREDs are warned that we and our people will watch their every move until the final count is in.

                A.  Region XI                            -  Atty. Ray F. Sumalipao

                B.  CARAGA                            -  Atty. Francisco Pobe

                Likewise, the following REDs are warned that we and our people will watch their every move until the final count is in.

                A.  Region VI                            -  Atty. Renato A. Magbutay

                B.  Region XI                            -  Atty Remlane M. Tambuang

                C.  CARAGA                            -  Atty. Cirilo E. Nala, Jr.

                D.  ARMM                                 -  Atty. Ray F. Sumalipao

2.             We also have reports that certain local government and Comelec officials whom we will not name here, were offered HUGE CASH INCENTIVES who are able to deliver 12-0 in favor of TU, and an ADDED BONUS is promised if GO candidate Alan Peter Cayetano gets ZERO VOTE.

3.       We also have reports of verbal instructions from no less than the Office of the AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon to all military commanders to ensure a TU 12-0 slate in their respective areas of responsibility especially in military camps where the canvassing of votes will be conducted.

4.             We also have reports coming from Tarlac, Samar, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, and Makati that during the absentee voting in the AFP between May 4 to 6, 2007, Army personnel were instructed to vote straight TU as per verbal order of CGPA. While voting, the soldiers were guarded by their officers and senior NCOs to ensure that they vote as ordered. In one area, the ballots which were placed in sealed envelops were collected and placed in a mere sack, not ballot box. The soldiers were directed to put their thumb marks and affix their signatures on blank sheets of paper which were collected by HPA personnel administering the absentee voting. In all areas, there were no overseeing COMELEC officials or representatives around, only direct commanders, AFP officers and NCOs.  Xxx.

.

Ex-AFP brass bare ‘Oplan Mercury Rising’

By Norman Bordadora, Tony Bergonia, Inquirer, 05/09/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A new poll watchdog coalition composed of retired military brass, officers and enlisted men Tuesday disclosed an alleged fresh plot to cheat in the May 14 elections, with the purported objective of ensuring an overall good showing by the administration’s senatorial candidates.

Quoting a purported intelligence report on “Oplan Mercury Rising,” the coalition that calls itself Bantay Boto said top election officers in four regions in the Visayas and Mindanao and in 12 provinces across the country had specifically been ordered to make sure that three Team Unity (TU) candidates would bag the top three slots in these areas.

Retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, one of the conveners of Bantay Boto, named the candidates as Michael Defensor, Jose Miguel Zubiri and Prospero Pichay.

Its other conveners are retired Gen. Romeo Dominguez, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command under the Arroyo administration; retired Philippine National Police Director General Recaredo Sarmiento, PNP chief under the Ramos administration, and retired Navy Capt. Salvador Paron, a leader of Forces.

Among the areas supposedly pinpointed for fraud operations is Eastern Samar, the province of Gov. Ben Evardone, the TU media director, Aparri said at a news conference.

Of the three candidates named, only Zubiri (along with TU candidates Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto) has broken into the winning circle in both surveys of private polling firms, Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.

“In this regard, the [election officers in the said areas] are warned that we and our people will watch their every move until the final count is in,” Aparri said.

He added: “Cheating will take place and we will try to limit it. If we can’t limit it, then we will bring the issue back to the people. What do you want us to do?”

Roll call

Bantay Boto is made up of Bagong Katipunan-Magdalo, Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Personnel (or Forces), Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc., Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military-Police for Solidarity (Yes Arms), Grand Order of the United Guardians, Para sa Bayan, and Soldiers and Police for Peace and Progress.

It is seeking to align itself with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) to monitor the conduct of the polls from the precinct level to the national canvassing.

The following provinces are the supposed targets for massive cheating: Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan.

The regions supposedly identified for fraud operations are Central Visayas, Davao, Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The identified areas are said to have more than 14.7 million registered voters.

Aparri said Bantay Boto’s intelligence information had yet to identify the person who gave the order to commit fraud.

“[The cheating operation reaches] up to the highest level in those areas mentioned. There was no mention of the Comelec commissioners,” he said.

‘Huge cash incentives’

Bantay Boto said local government and Commission on Elections officials had been “offered huge cash incentives” to deliver a 12-0 win for TU.

“An added bonus is promised if GO (Genuine Opposition) candidate Alan Peter Cayetano gets zero vote,” Aparri said.

He said Bantay Boto had also received information that no less than the office of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, the AFP chief of staff, had issued verbal instructions to all military commanders to ensure a 12-0 TU win, “especially in military camps where the canvassing of votes will be conducted.”

“We also have reports coming from Tarlac, Samar, and Davao Oriental that during the absentee voting in the AFP between May 4 and 6 ... Army personnel were instructed to vote straight TU per verbal order of CGPA (Gen. Romeo Tolentino, commanding general of the Philippine Army),” Aparri said.

He quoted the intelligence report as saying that no Comelec representative was present during the absentee voting in the camps, and that noncommissioned officers stood guard to make sure the soldiers voted for all 12 TU candidates.

Asked to comment, AFP information chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said: “Let’s not drag the AFP into something it is not doing.”

Bacarro said that while there could be some individuals in the military who had wittingly or unwittingly gotten involved in partisan politics, “definitely it’s not the entire AFP organization.”

Both TU and GO

He added that military personnel found to be engaging in partisan politics would have to face the consequences of their actions.

Aparri and Dominguez said the warning against fraud was addressed to both the administration and opposition slates.

“If we become partisan, we will be ineffective in our advocacy [of keeping the elections’ integrity intact],” Dominguez told reporters.

He called on members of the AFP to remain nonpartisan. He urged soldiers to report orders that might compromise their being nonpolitical.

“I’m a former soldier. So when the Armed Forces is questioned, somehow it affects [me],” he said.

Asked what he thought of Esperon continuously being mentioned in allegations of election fraud, Dominguez said: “That’s because the ‘Hello Garci’ controversy had no closure.”

He was referring to the purported election fraud in the 2004 presidential election, in which Esperon and other generals were implicated.

But both Aparri and Dominguez expressed the belief that the AFP was generally neutral.

“People like Balutan and Gudani are not alone. There are many of them,” Aparri said in reference to retired Gen. Francisco Gudani and Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan.

Gudani was mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes as having posed an obstacle to the alleged fraud, and Balutan was his aide.

They testified before the Senate on the alleged fraud in Mindanao during the 2004 elections.

‘Dagdag-bawas’ network

When the voting precincts close in the afternoon of May 14, the Senate race will begin.

The race will not be among the most qualified, but among those with the most money to spend, according to Philippine Daily Inquirer sources who declined to be named for security reasons.

It has come to be known as “dagdag-bawas” -- literally “add-subtract” -- and it involves the padding and shaving of thousands of votes.

It’s a very expensive race, which may explain why a senatorial candidate, according to some estimates, needs as much as P500 million to win.

It’s one where the key players -- candidates’ operators and election officers in towns where the Senate race takes a back seat to the local contests -- work best in the shadows of anonymity.

Former staff members of four senators who engaged in “dagdag-bawas” in the ARMM in the 1992, 1998 and 2004 senatorial elections said the network for fraud in the areas where they had operated was still intact.

Money is the key to rev up the network, they said.

A center of the operations is Marawi City, said one of the staffers, a retired military officer.

He said that in 2001, when he moved around the city for his candidate (also currently in the running), operators of another senator (now also running) were also there.

Steps 1 and 2

This was how the ex-military officer explained the supposed process leading to the “end game”:

The first step is to prepare the money.

At that time, he had P1 million with him -- a small amount for the task, which was to move his candidate’s ranking from No. 13 (which would allow a three-year term) to No. 12 (a six-year term).

He was able to get 400,000 extra votes for his candidate through “dagdag-bawas.” But the operation still came up short, and the candidate was stuck at No. 13.

The next step is to find a “guide” who would identify the right election officer to bribe.

The most important persons in operations like these are the municipal and provincial election registrars.

They hold the key to such priceless documents as certificates of canvass (COCs).

The costs supposedly vary. In 2001, the going rates were P30,000 to P50,000 per town.

In many instances, candidates’ operators needed to buy cooperation from as few as 20 towns to as many as 200 towns, depending on the objective, aside from ensuring the candidate’s victory.

Color of money

The “dagdag-bawas” machinery is apparently available to the highest bidder, regardless of the customer’s political affiliation.

“There’s no loyalty among these people,” said another source. “It’s all about the color of money.”

Continued the ex-military officer:

When polling precincts in the villages close, the ballots are sent to the municipal, town or city election registrar.

The results won’t be touched at the village level: “It’s too risky and the returns are small. It’s better to go wholesale.”

The opportunity to cheat lies in the COCs that are in the possession of municipal, city or provincial election registrars.

It is the registrars who would fill up the COCs with tallies from the villages, and it is to them that the money, or the bulk of it, goes.

If a candidate needs only a few thousand votes, only the municipal election registrar is needed to pad the votes coming from village precincts.

If the objective is to make a rival candidate lose, the process is the same -- but instead of padding votes, the election registrar deducts from them.

But if the objective is a Senate seat, the operation takes on a larger scale in terms of the number of manufactured votes.

“We’re not talking here of thousands of votes. To alter the results of the rankings [in the Senate race], you need hundreds of thousands of votes.”

P200 per vote

Bribes ranged from P25 to P50 per vote back in 2001. Today’s estimate is up to P200 per vote.

Candidates whose target is a Senate seat, no matter the ranking, will be content with paying only the municipal election registrar.

But there’s a bigger fish -- the provincial election registrar -- for candidates whose objective is to be on top of the winners’ list. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Retired generals warn

of plot to hijack 14M votes
Say cheating plan covers 4 regions, 12 provinces,

BY VICTOR REYES, Malaya, May 8, 2007

AN umbrella organization composed of retired military and police generals and military-based groups yesterday said the Arroyo administration plans to cheat in 16 provinces and regions involving 14.7 million votes.

"Intelligence reports reveal the existence of Oplan Mercury Rising. The operational plan has identified specific areas where massive election fraud will be committed," said a Bantay Boto document, read by Commodore (ret.) Ismael Appari.

The convenors include former PNP chief Recaredo Sarmiento, former Army chief Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello, and former Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez.

The group identified the provinces as Ilocos Sur with 345,981 registered voters; Pampanga, 1,131,627; Camarines Sur, 222,691; Cebu, 2,104,738; Bohol, 661,041; Leyte, 940,738; Eastern Samar, 234,559; Lanao del Norte, 484,091; Davao del Sur, 1,232,053; Lanao del Sur, 396,722; Maguindanao, 336,774; and Shariff Kabunsuan, 198,280.

The supposed region-level cheating would be launched in Region VI (Western Mindanao) with 3,667,151 voters; Region XI (Southern Mindanao), 994,552; Caraga, 1,238,982, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 572,248.

The figures cited account for 14,762,228 votes or 32.8 percent of the total registered voters.

"These voters are classified as those that can be manipulated," said Appari, leader of the Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military-Police for Solidarity (YesArms).

The other groups under the Bantay Boto are Bagong Katipunan, also known as the Magdalo Group; Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Personnel; Grand Order of the Unified Guardians; Para sa Bayan; Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Association, Inc. and Soldiers and Police for Peace and Progress.

The Para sa Bayan, led by former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, was involved in the failed power grab in February last year. The Magdalo Group mounted the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

"The respective provincial election supervisors, assistant regional election directors and regional election directors in these provinces and regions were allegedly ordered to see to it that TU (Team Unity) candidates (Michael) Defensor, (Juan Miguel) Zubiri and (Prospero) Pichay should rank in the first three slots," the document said.

"We also have reports that certain local government and Comelec officials whom we will not name here were offered huge cash incentives to deliver 12-0 in favor of TU and an added bonus was promised if GO (General Opposition) candidate Alan Peter Cayetano gets zero vote," the document said.

The document also cited an alleged verbal instruction from the office of Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to all military commanders to ensure a 12-0 win for TU.

"We also have reports coming from Tarlac, Samar, and Davao Oriental that during the absentee voting in the AFP between May 4 to 6, 2007, Army personnel were instructed to vote straight TU as per order of CGPA (Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino)," it added.

The Bantay Boto document also alleged that the soldiers were guarded by their officers and senior non-commissioned officers "to ensure that they vote as ordered."

"In one area, the ballots which were in sealed envelops were collected and placed in a mere sack, not ballot box. The soldiers were directed to put their thumb marks and affix their signatures on blank sheets of paper which were collected by HPA (Headquarters, Philippine Army) personnel administering the absentee voting," it said.

It claimed that the absentee voting was not presided by Comelec officials, only by direct commanders, AFP officers and NCOs."

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the Senate committee of national defense who was invited as a resource person, said there are already indicators that "cheating and unconstitutional acts are being committed to undermine the integrity of the electoral process."

He cited the involvement of soldiers in the alleged tearing down of a party list campaign poster in Bulacan, and those supporting the election of the Bantay party list of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, which he said is suspected of being a tool of Malacañang.

Biazon also said soldiers are campaigning for presidential son Dato Arroyo who is running for congressman in Camarines Sur.

AFP public information chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the reports about Oplan Mercury Rising are "bereft of the truth."

He appealed to the retired generals not to tarnish the image of the military as an institution.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, in a text message, said the allegation of Bantay Boto is "a serious claim and accusation" and urged the Commission on Elections to investigate. – With Jocelyn Montemayor

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Ex-generals bare Gloria vote rig plot

 By Gina Peralta-Elorde , Tribune, 05/09/2007

With the active military officers unable to come forward and expose the alleged cheating plot of the Arroyo administration as they are certain to face military disciplinary action as well as a court martial, it was the retired generals who came forward to lay bare to the public the latest alleged cheating plot by the Arroyo government.

The retired officers, forming themselves into a group called “Bantay Boto” yesterday faced the media and ubveiled the cheating operations codenamed Oplan Mer-cury Rising, the alleged operational plan of Malacañang to rig the vote to the tune of some 14 million votes to favor Team Unity (TU) candidates.

The group disclosed that it obtained this plot to rig the elections from intelligence information, then warned that another massive fraud marking the 2007 polls will trigger another political crisis.

In a press conference yesterday morning, Ret. Navy commodore Ismael Aparri, a convenor of the anti-election fraud coalition Bantay Boto, and chairman of Yes-Arms, a military group of retired and active officers, divulged that Oplan Mercury Rising involves electoral fraudto be conducted in Western and Eastern Mindanao, Caraga, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Camarines Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sharif Kabunsuan.

Aparri said under this oplan, provincial election supervisors, assistant regional election directors and regional election directors in the identified cheating areas have been ordered to ensure that administration senatorial bets Michael Defensor, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Prospero Pichay, the original bets of Mrs. Arroyo, will be given the top three of the 12 senatorial seats in these areas, thereby pushing them upwards in the magic circle.

Groups in Bantay Boto include Bagong Katipunan; Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Personnel (Forces); Grand Order of the Unified Guardians (Gounig); Para sa Bayan (PsB); Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. (PGBi); Soldiers and Police for Peace and Progress (SPP) and Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military-Police for Solidarity (Yes Arms).

The group stated that the 12 areas where cheating will be in operation have 345,981 registered voters in Ilocos Sur; Pampanga, 1,131,627; Camarines Norte, 222,691; Cebu, 2,104,738; Bohol, 661,041; Leyte, 940,738; Eastern Samar, 234,559; Lanao del Norte, 484,091; Davao del Sur, 1,232,053; Lanao del Sur, 396,722; Maguindanao, 336,774; and Sharif Kabunsuan, 198,280.

The group also said cheating by regions will be done in Western Visayas, which has 3,667,151 registered voters; Region 11 with 2,226,605 voters; Caraga with 1,238,982 voters; and ARMM with 1,504,024 voters.

The poll watchdog group said in its statement that the Provincial Election Supervisors, Assistant Regional Election Directors and Regional Election Directors in these provinces and regions have been ordered to ensure the the victory of three of Mrs. Arroyo’s favorites, who are in the bottom rung of the Senate slate, going by survey results. It pointed out that at a regional level, the cheating will involve 6,472,933 registered voters or some 14 percent of the registered voters.

The group identified the election inspectors as Joel Gines (Ilocos Norte); Temie Lambino (Pampanga); Said Ali Maganduga (Camarines Norte); Lionel Marco Castellano (Cebu); Veronico Petalcorin (Bohol); Andrew Bido (Leyte); Juan Bautista Beato (Eastern Samar); Remlane Tambuang (Davao del Sur); Joseph Hamilton Cuevas Banzon (Lanao del Norte); Nasib Yasin (Lanao del Sur); Lintang Bedol (Maguindanao); and Kasan Usi (Sharif Kabunsuan).

It identified the regional supervisors as Ray Sumalipao (Region 11), and Francisco Pobe (Caraga).

Thegroup also identified the regional directors as Renato Magbutay (Region 6), Remlane Tambuang (11), Cirilo Nala Jr. (Caraga), and Ray Sumalipao (ARMM).

“We will not allow the fraud of the 2004 election to happen again. We call upon the AFP, the PNP and the Comelec to do their sworn duty under the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines to stay neutral and non-partisan to ensure that the elections are honest, clean, orderly, peaceful and reflect the sovereign will of the Filipino people,” the group stressed, adding that it will not hesitate to use all forces and resources at their disposal.

The retired officers said they have also gathered information from their military sources that there were verbal instructions from the Office of the AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to all military commanders to ensure a TU 12-0 slate in their areas of responsibility especially in military camps where the canvassing of votes is to be conducted.

This Esperon order was earlier disclosed by Genuine Opposition candidate detained Navy Lt. SG Antonio Trillanes lV, who spoke of a radio message from Esperon to the commanding officers to ensure a 12-0 victory for TU candidates.

Malacañang quickly reacted to baring of Oplan Mercury Rising, denouncing the group, saying these allegations are baseless and went to castigate media for even carrying this story in the absence of “concrete facts” that would directly link the Palace.

“What we should do on this issue is for our public to be vigilant and this includes the media. They should not rely on baseless reports that tend to accuse the government, especially in these critical times,” secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo said.

Also reacting to the press conference of the group of retired generals, the military leadership yesterday dared Bantay Boto to show proof with which to prove their claims that the government will employ massive cheating to ensure the victory of administration candidates on May 14 elections under the oplan.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the retired military and police officials should come up with convincing evidence in linking the military leadership to the alleged new plans to conduct cheating in the forthcoming elections.

“The AFP leadership has been very strict in implementing General Esperon’s instructions on the soldiers not to engage in partisan politics. This kind of allegation will never happen,” Bacarro said.

Massive fraud that marred the 2004 polls did happen, and proof has been submitted through the infamous Hello Garci tapes. This was also the reason for the Marines standoff in February last year, since the Marines didn’t like the idea of having the military cheat in the elections for the administration, specifically President Arroyo.

Mentioned in that tape was the involvement in the fraud of several AFP generals, among whom is Esperon, who has been promoted to chief of staff.

The group also cited reports from Tarlac, Samar, and Davao Oriental that during the absentee voting in the AFP very recently, Army personnel were instructed to vote straight TU as per verbal order of the Army chief.

“While voting, the soldiers were guarded by their officers and senior NCOs to ensure that they vote as ordered. In one area, the ballots which were placed in sealed envelops were collected and placed in a mere sack, not a ballot box. The soldiers were directed to put their thumb marks and affix their signatures on blank sheets of paper which were collected by HPA personnel administering the absentee voting. In all areas, there were no overseeing Comelec officials or representatives around, only direct commanders, AFP officers and NCOs (non-commissioned officers),” the group said.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, former AFP chief of staff, who graced the occasion, cited what he called manifestations of cheating, including the reported deployment of soldiers to Camarines Sur province to ensure the victory of the President’s son, Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo III, who is running for congressman.

Television had witnesses saying the military has been used in the campaign of the presidential son and troops have been putting up the posters of son Dato while destroying the posters and streamers of his rival.

Also, TV cameras caught the military headquarters in that area filled with the presidential son’s campaign posters.

“God forbid, because if there is again massive cheating in the 2007 elections, this could trigger another round of political instability,” Biazon said

For his part, retired Gen. Romeo Dominguez, warned that this cheating will be exposed by whistleblowers if the military leadership is again involved in election fraud.

“The AFP as an organization is neutral. Don’t forget, despite the chaos last time, we had (Col. Alex) Balutan and (Gen. Francisco) Gudani. They are not alone. There is a silent majority that you can rely on to be honorable,” Dominguez said.