Press Release
February 2, 2009

CUSTODIANS OF CONTESTED BALLOTS IN PIMENTEL-ZUBIRI
PROTEST WARNED AGAINST TAMPERING

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today warned municipal and city treasurers against allowing themselves to be used in an apparent effort to tamper with the ballots that are being recounted in towns and cities covered by the counter-protest of administration Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri against Genuine Opposition senatorial bet Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III before the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Pimentel said the local treasurers concerned could be criminally charged for violation of the Omnibus of the Election Code if they are found to be remiss in safeguarding the ballots, or worse, if they have connived with special operators in tampering, falsifying or destroying the ballots and other election documents with the intention of derailing or sabotaging Koko's protest against Zubiri in connection with the 2007 senatorial election.

He issued the warning after it was discovered that water was apparently poured into the ballots inside several ballot boxes from San Pablo City, Quezon City and Malabon City, rendering them unreadable and useless for the recount. In San Pablo City alone, ballots were found to be wet when the first 28 ballot boxes were opened.

The elder Pimentel said it was obvious that the ballot boxes were intentionally soaked in water, with the dubious purpose of putting the blame on Koko.

"But who will believe the lie that the Pimentel camp had something to do with this despicable act. We do not cheat," the veteran senator from Mindanao said.

Pimentel said it is only the party in power which is capable of resorting to such fraudulent tactic.

"It is outrageous that the fraud machinery of the administration is still at work. They cheated Koko during the counting of votes in Maguindanao and other Mindanao province in 2007. Now, their special operators are back at work, tampering with the ballots that are up for recount in the election protest," he said.

He also said that administrative and criminal charges against the treasurers will be filed soon for their being remiss in their duty as designated custodians of the ballots, ballot boxes and other election documents.

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