Thursday 18th August, 2011(Source: Sun Star Daily)
THE Mayuga report on allegations of cheating in the 2004, although perceived as "watered down," still has enough information for follow-up investigations, a senator said Thursday.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer, said the Senate blue ribbon committee has been referred a resolution to investigate allegations of cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections. "We can tackle (the report) there," he said.
He cited the example of General Rodolfo Garcia, whom Trillanes said "practically admitted that there was cheating and there were officers who allowed themselves to be used for cheating."
He added that as far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is concerned, it can hold its own internal investigation on the alleged participation of the military in election irregularities.
He said that this time, the AFP can investigate "without fear of coercion or harassment from the former occupants (of Malacañang)."
He added the Mayuga Report, prepared by former Navy vice admiral Mateo Mayuga, was just Mayuga's appreciation of testimony and evidence. He said the report can be thrown away because it has no value, but the testimony given by military officers are still intact and can be used in further investigations.
He said the whitewashing did not weaken the allegations of poll fraud. "In this case, the only thing that Admiral Mayuga destroyed was his name, that he was willing to be co-opted by the past administration."
The report, kept secret during the Arroyo administration, has been de-classified by the Aquino government.
Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano saw this as proof that Aquino wants transparency in government. He later urged Aquino to have the government conduct follow-up investigations on people mentioned in the report.
"More importantly, someone has to be held accountable," he said.
He added that he hoped the joint Justice department and Commission on Elections investigation on poll fraud in past elections. This was a sentiment echoed by Senator Francis Escudero, who urged the joint panel to invite people in the annexes of the report for questioning.
Escudero said the Mayuga Report was prepared to cover up, rather than uncover the truth, on allegations of poll fraud in 2004.
Back then, Escudero was the spokesman for Fernando Poe Jr. Poe lost to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom Poe accused of cheating her way to the presidency. His election protest died with him in late 2004.
Former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., meanwhile, said the AFP and the DOJ should immediately charge and prosecute officers implicated by either the report or its annexes.