Administration cheating scheme in place: Lacson

MALAYBALAY — Re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson Thursday said a two-pronged cheating scheme is being cooked up by Malacañang to ensure the victory of administration candidates.

Lacson said in the first scheme, some local leaders particularly in Mindanao sell senatorial votes to the highest bidder.

He said voters in such areas tend to fill the space for local candidates in their ballots. The spaces for senators are left blank.

He said he has information that some Team Unity candidates have already approached these local leaders to haggle over the fee.

"Ito ang naririnig nating malimit ipagmalaki ng TU na pagpasok ng local campaign at ang machinery nila. Di botante ang pinag-uusapan kundi ang makinarya kung saan sino ang magbayad ng mataas bawa’t boto yan ang lalagyan ng pangalan," he said.

He said the second scheme involves Malacañang fixers in the party list elections, where Malacañang shoulders the campaign funding of some party list groups.

"Malacañang ang magde-designate kung sino ang nominee/s sa party list na accredited, tutulungan nilang magkampanya. Tapos sa halip na ire-represent mismo ng marginalized groups, nominee ng Malacañang ang papasok for a fee," he said.

GO spokesman Adel Tamano urged the Comelec to announce the names of party list nominees to weed out those "fronting" for Malacañang.

At least 11 organizations have been identified by Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales as "front organizations" of the Arroyo administration.

These are Babae Ka; Ang Kasangga; Akbay Pinoy; Aksyon Sambayanan (Aksa); Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano Inc.; Ahon Pinoy; Biyaheng Pinoy; Aangat Tayo, Aangat ang Kabuhayan (Anak); Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad); Banat and Kakusa.

In Cagayan de Oro city, GO candidate Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said at least 5 million "ghost" voters have still to be purged from the official list.

Pimentel said the figure could be used by the administration Team Unity ticket.

"That’s enough votes to ensure a victory for a senatoriable on top of what he or she will get from their actual voters," Pimentel said.which are difficult to trace. – JP Lopez, Ashzel Hachero and Dennis Gadil