4 presidential bets unite vs. possible election sabotage

MANILA – Four presidential candidates signed a joint statement on Sunday to join forces if there will be an attempt to destabilize the May 9 elections.

During a joint press conference at The Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Damagoso, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and former National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales said they are worried that there will be massive cheating in the coming polls.

A fourth presidential hopeful, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, was among the signatories but did not make it to the event while vice presidential candidates Dr. Willie Ong and Senate President Vicente Sotto III joined their running mates.

“’Yan naman po talaga ang ginagawa nung mga nakaraang eleksyon eh. Parang inihahanda na po ‘yung sambayanan natin para di kwestyunin kung ano ang resulta kahit na may daya. Eh palagay ko po naman panahon na para huwag na nating pahintulutan ‘yan (It has been done in the previous elections. They precondition our people not to question the results even if there was a fraud. I think, it is time that we will not let that happen again),” Gonzales said.

Lacson echoed that they will stand as one.

“’Yan ang essence ng paglabas namin ngayong umaga. At warning na rin na huwag kayo mag-subvert ng will of the electorate kasi we’ll stand up as one (That is the essence of our press conference and a warning against those planning to subvert the will of the electorate because we’ll stand up as one),” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he “fully supports” the stand of Domagoso, Gonzales, and his running mate, Lacson.

Lacson confirmed they have received intelligence reports of elections sabotage but are still validating them.

“Hindi naman puwedeng agad-agad i-share sa public kung hindi validated. We’re very careful along this line. We’re still working on it to validate, but there are numerous reports actually pointing to this subversion or subverting the will of the people (We cannot share it immediately with the public because it is still invalidated. We’re very careful along this line. We’re still working on it to validate, but there are numerous reports actually pointing to this subversion or subverting the will of the people),” he said.

Lacson added that if there will be an attempt to destabilize election day, they will stand up as one.

“Hindi naman kami naghahamon ng rebolusyon pero gagawin namin ang magagawa namin following the rule of law, of course para pigilan kung hindi man talaga labanan (We are not daring to start a revolution but we will do what we can following the rule of law, of course to stop it),” he said.