With less than a week to go before the elections and in the midst of reports of PCOS machines tallying test ballots incorrectly in Makati and Pateros, Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP) standard bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva said supporters of his party would be switching to a “red alert” posture, or a position of extreme vigilance and readiness, for the coming May 10 elections.
He explained that the red alert posture means BPP supporters would be quick and decisive in responding to any sign of deception, chicanery and dishonesty in the conduct of the election.
He also called on other patriotic Filipino to be vigilant as well.
“We must never, never forget the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal that was validated by the infamous ‘I am sorry’ of no less than the President herself. We must never forget that these are the very same people and network of operators who are still very much in power. That the people were cheated the first time is a tragedy and shame. To be cheated a second time by the same administration is unforgivable,” Villanueva said.
On Monday, anti-cheating groups had said they received reports PCOS machines in Makati and Pateros were not tallying votes correctly in a test performed before the machines and ballots are sealed.
Villanueva also noted that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) itself on Monday revealed a plot to discredit the automated elections by still unidentified groups to purposely delay voting to prevent other voters from voting.
Recently, IT experts have questioned the removal of safeguards that prevent cheating in the PCOS machines by the Comelec and the reported errors in the source code used for the automated polls.
Villanueva also said other events, such as the insistence of the Palace to appoint a Chief Justice before the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno; the appointment of members of PMA Class of 1978, which adopted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to sensitive positions in the military; and the storage of the PCOS machines with Aboitiz company, owned by a known FG close friend.
“All indubitably point to an administration preparation to secure the results of the national election to its interests. From the point of view of criminal law, there is the palpable presence of ‘motive’ to hi-jack once more the elections,” Villanueva said.
“With a nation wanting to hold the administration to account or answer for many issues of corruption, there is every reason to ensure that the election favors the administration interest.” The fact that no one was held liable for the anomalies in 2004 makes its repetition, albeit in a grander and perhaps more vicious scale a foreboding reality, he added.
Also, Villanueva respectfully calls on the Supreme Court to reverse itself on the issue of the Chief Justice exemption from the 'mid-night appointments' ban. “The Supreme Court is the last institution that the people can look up to for judicial remedy. You cannot just order respect all the time. Respect must be earned. If people lose respect for the high tribunal, we have a terrible problem in our hands.”
He also called on the military to vow never to be part of any election chicanery, and to thwart any attempt to steal the mandate of the people again.