Puwersa says 6 candidates targeted for ‘dagdag-bawas’

The Puwersa ng Masa-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PnM-LDP) accused the administration People Power Coalition (PPC) yesterday of targeting six leading opposition candidates in alleged post-election cheating operations.

PnM spokesman Crispin Remulla said re-electionist Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, former police chief Panfilo Lacson and former Cabinet members Edgardo Angara and Ricardo Puno were victims of ballot switching and dagdag-bawas (vote padding and shaving) schemes in Metro Manila and Mindanao.

Remulla also accused the PPC of creating special quick reaction teams (QRT) to fix the rankings of "endangered" candidates like Rep. Ralph Recto.

"The six PnM candidates were the primary targets of the black propaganda and the massive cheating operations undertaken by Palace operatives in a desperate bid to prop up the chances of PPC bets in opposition bailiwicks," the PnM spokesman said in a statement.

He pointed out that aside from dagdag-bawas operations, fraud teams sent to Mindanao were brazen enough to switch election returns by the tonload to drastically lessen the lead of the opposition’s strongest bets.

"Lacson, Enrile, Santiago, Angara, Honasan and Puno have been the targets from the very beginning. The people behind this were not only into tampering election returns but also substitution of election returns," Remulla said.

Remulla revealed that the QRTs were formed "in a frenzied bid to pack the incoming Senate with more Malacañang lackeys."

"This is the real reason why Recto is so confident of being elected in the Senate despite his precarious standing," he said.

Remulla claimed the operations are being spearheaded by former police general Ramon Montano and former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

"Montano and Bello, both protégés of former President Fidel Ramos, are now doing the rounds in Northern Luzon, particularly Isabela, with the goal of ensuring Recto’s win in the final tally," he said.

In a separate statement, Remulla challenged Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to immediately conduct an investigation into the alleged involvement of military officials in dagdag-bawas operations.

"Instead of making denials on the alleged involvement of his men, Secretary Reyes should start a probe and punish those responsible lest he too be accused of conniving with the generals," he said.

Earlier, Remulla said PnM sympathizers were able to catch on videotape the opening of ballot boxes in Surigao del Sur by unauthorized persons "and confirm that seven crates of election materials were airlifted from Davao City and sent to Manila on the eve of elections."