The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today presented fourteen (14) Election Officers and one (1) Computerized Voters List Technician (CVL Tech) from the Province of Maguindanao who were witnesses to large-scale election fraud perpetrated in the Province during the 2007 Senatorial Elections.
Also presented today is former Maguindanao Provincial Administrator Norie K. Unas, said to be former Governor Datu Andal Sr.’s right hand man.
According to COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Unas was “the person who stage-managed” the election fraud in the Province “upon instruction from the highest official of the land” at that time.
“The 2007 elections in Maguindanao was marred by an absolute commission of fraud and irregularity,” said Brillantes, who, with Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and COMELEC Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph, led the press conference this morning at the poll body’s Main Office.
Unas and the fifteen Election Officials and personnel submitted their respective Affidavits before the COMELEC, detailing their knowledge in election irregularities in the 2007 polls.
In his Affidavit, Unas directly linked former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her spouse former First Gentleman Atty. Mike Arroyo in 2007 Maguindanao election fraud.
Unas, in his affidavit, said President Arroyo’s instruction to Datu Andal during a dinner meeting held at Malacañang Palace days before the 2007 elections was: “Dapat 12-0 sa Maguindanao, kahit pa ayusin o palitan niyo ang resulta.”
Unas also said that he was told by Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan that, “Utos ni FG, kelangang 12-0 ang result sa Mguindanao… at kailangan walang makuhang boto si Cayetano.”
He said this came after Ampatuan met with the former First Gentleman at the LTA Building in Makati. Unas accompanied Ampatuan during that meeting.
DOJ Secretary de Lima, for her part, cited the significance of Unas’ testimony, saying that “this is the first time that a witness has direct personal knowledge pointing to the first couple” as alleged perpetrators of election fraud.
