Palace on alleged poll fraud: “Let them present proof”

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
(Photo: Robert Viñas/Rodolfo Manabat/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said the whistleblowers should present evidence in the proper forum about their allegations that a top government official instructed them to manipulate elections results in favor of the ruling Liberal Party candidates led by presidential candidate Mar Roxas and vice presidential aspirant Leni Robredo.

“Let those who are alleging fraud present proof in the proper forum,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to the Malacanang media members.

On Monday, Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary general Pastor Boy Saycon presented to the Senate media three election whistleblowers who hid behind scarves and sunglasses.

The whistleblowers alleged that at least 400,000 votes from the Quezon province were added to the tally for Roxas and at least 300,000 votes for Robredo.

They claimed that vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos was the victim of the biggest “shaving” of votes number to almost half a million.

Robredo won the presidential race by only 267,743 votes against closest rival Marcos.

The whistleblowers also claimed that alleged poll-rigging operation also benefitted the LP senatorial candidates, including Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Saycon said the whistleblowers went to the Senate to meet with losing re-electionist senators Serge Osmena III and Teofisto ‘TG’ Guingona Jr.

They claimed that Osmena and Guingona also were victims of vote-shaving.