Erap seeks covenant for clean polls

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada asked President Aquino yesterday to initiate and sign a covenant for clean and honest elections.

In a press conference here before joining the grand rally of senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Estrada said elections in the country have always been marred with fraud.

“I am calling on the President to sign a covenant. I will also sign such a covenant to ensure that there will be clean and honest elections on May 13,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the Aquino administration’s slogan of “daang matuwid “ or straight path will become crooked if there will be cheating in the elections.

He said the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the May elections could easily be manipulated by people with intention to cheat. “We must prevent the hocus PCOS,” Estrada said.

Estrada added that election fraud should be made a heinous crime.

“I ask the President to really use all his powers to have clean, honest and peaceful elections. Election cheating should be included in the heinous crimes and offenders must be slapped with a life sentence,” he said.

Estrada said he was a victim of cheating when he first ran as mayor of San Juan.

The former president, who is running for mayor of Manila, expressed concern that cheating may also happen in the city, claiming his opponent wants to cling to power.