'Koko' sues Arroyos for electoral sabotage

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a non-bailable electoral sabotage against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her husband and more than ten others for “conspiring” to commit fraud in the 2007 elections.

 

In a filing on Monday afternoon before the Department of Justice-Comelec investigating panel, Pimentel said the fraud led to the “erroneous proclamation of a non-winner,” referring to former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

 

Zubiri earlier vacated his post to give way to Pimentel after witnesses came out to attest to the latter’s win.

 

In an interview with ANC, Pimentel said he expects that the taskforce will resolve the complaint in a month’s time.

 

He said fraud is no longer the issue, but “those who should be liable...should go to jail.”

 

He said he has already uncovered irregularities during the litigation of his election protest against Zubiri. The complaint, this time, is being supported by recent revelations led by former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas.

 

“We now have a complete picture,” he said.

 

In a separate interview, lawyer Raul Lambino said the Arroyo camp has already expected this move from Pimentel.

 

He noted, however, “assuming there is fraud, there should be a criminal…Here are the people who have already admitted to committing the fraud. Why not file a case against them?”

 

Some of the witnesses who recently came out claimed to have tweaked election results out of orders from Malacañang.

 

Meanwhile, Pimentel said he will not stop the former president from leaving the country to seek medical treatment absent a final resolution on his complaint.

 

He could not say the same for former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, whom he said “looks very healthy to me.”