Penalize Perpetrators of Electoral Fraud – Gabriela Women's Party

Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women's Party, together with Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan Party List and Suara Bangsamoro charged with electoral sabotage the Committee of Canvassers in Zamboanga Sibugay today for padding thousands of votes for the party lists COOP-NATCO and UNIMAD in the said province.

"The travesty against the party list law, against the democratic rights of the Filipino has reached an appalling proportion. We must decisively take steps to stop this now and penalize all that were in complicity to this crime," said Maza.

The progressive party lists specifically named COMELEC Officer Atty. Edmund Rey B. Calo (Chairperson), Provincial Atty. Jeric S. Kagaoan (Vice Chairman), and Department of Education's Manuel M. Muyargas (Secretary) who heads the Committee of Canvassers in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

"Vote padding of pro-administration party lists is not merely an attempt to pull down the votes of progressive lists but more so, it is an affront to the very essence of the party list system. Vote padding of fake party lists robs the people of their true choice of representation," added Maza.

Last week, the progressive party lists also filed a case of electoral sabotage against the Committee of Canvassers of Caloocan City for allegedly padding the votes of party list Kasangga.

Maza concluded that Gabriela Women's Party and other progressive party lists will not hesitate to take legal action against any one in authority found to be in collusion in the massive fraud and cheating in the May 14, 2007.