AFP: Officers mentioned by Gamos should testify

MANILA, Philippines - The military will ask the officers mentioned by retired Army colonel Jose Gamos in the alleged 2004 poll fraud to testify before investigators if directed by authorities.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Commodore Miguel Rodriguez said yesterday they would cooperate with the agencies investigating the supposed cheating to put closure on the issue.

“If there is a directive from authorities, the position (of the armed forces) is to require our officers to cooperate (in the investigations),” he said.

Defense department spokesman Col. Hernando Iriberri said a defense committee is now determining if there are angles not explored by the Mayuga board formed to probe the alleged involvement of soldiers in the 2004 poll fraud.

The board cleared retired Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko and Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani in the supposed poll irregularities.

Last week, Gamos said he saw how the poll results in Sulu were manipulated in 2004 in favor of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He alleged that the canvassing of votes in Jolo, Sulu were moved to military camps amid security threats that could disrupt the elections.

On the other hand, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares criticized the Mayuga panel for allegedly covering up a reference to the testimony of a regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that a nephew of then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano tried to bribe her to tamper with election results in favor of then President Arroyo in Zamboanga City.

“I was surprised to see hidden in page 40 of the Summary of Testimonies annexed to the Mayuga Report that Comelec Region IX Director Atty. Helen Flores testified that Garcillano’s nephew and security aide Capt. Valentino Lopez approached her during the tabulation of the canvassing at the Zamboanga Coliseum, bribing her in huge amount not only to favor mayoralty candidate Lepengwe but also to remedy the big lead of FPJ in favor of GMA,” Colmenares said.  - Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy