Philippines poll body investigates massive fraud allegations

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Philippines poll body investigates massive fraud allegations

May 22, 2007, 10:19 GMT

Manila - The Philippines' elections commission said Tuesday it was investigating allegations of massive fraud in last week's mid-term polls, especially in the southern region of Mindanao.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) also deferred the canvassing of votes from the southern province of Maguindanao, where teachers were allegedly forced to fill up ballots in favour of administration bets ahead of the May 14 vote.

Election watchdog groups also complained that they were not allowed to monitor the voting and counting of votes in Maguindanao, while an authorized citizens' quick-count reported having difficulty getting election returns from the province.
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But Abalos said the Comelec could not set aside the votes from Maguindanao on 'the basis of unverified, unvalidated reports, on more unsupported manifestations.'

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye also rejected the call to discount the Maguindanao votes.




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