APRIL 24, 1998 Friday 

SIN: ERAP VICTORY DISASTROUS FOR RP

"The most probable winner could be the most disastrous for the country." Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin aired this warning as he also urged some presidential candidates to make a sacrifice for the people by withdrawing from the May 11 elections to prevent an "unqualified" candidate from winning. "The common good may demand that some qualified candidates themselves withdraw from the race in order that the unqualified may not hold sway," he said. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

SIN RIDES AGAIN, URGES SOME BETS TO QUIT RACE

In an unprecedented move, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin will be using the pulpit on May 3 to urge some candidates to withdraw from the presidential race "in order that the unqualified may not hold sway." Sin’s pastoral letter, to be read in all Metro Manila Catholic Churches a week before the May 11 elections, did not name the candidates the Cardinal favors or disfavors. But it was by far Sin’s most politically partisan statement since the EDSA People Power revolt, when he openly endorsed the candidacy of Corazon Aquino against strongman Ferdinand Marcos. (The Manila Times)

OFFICIAL BALLOTS FOR SALE? IMPOSSIBLE, SAYS COMELEC

At least 100,000 official ballots with serial numbers were recently sold for P1 million at P10 each to supporters of an independent mayoralty candidate in Southern Tagalog allegedly by certain employees of the Commission on Elections, sources told yesterday. The sources said it might not be an isolated case and that the practice could be rampant. Comelec Chair Bernardo Pardo immediately denied there had been leaks in the stock of printed ballots. He said the National Printing Office was very well secured and that the representatives of political parties and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) were supposed to stand guard in the printing of the ballots." (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

LAKAS: 10 MILLION VOTES FOR JdeV

Dismissing the Philippine Survey and Research Center (PRSC) survey results as unrealistic, the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP-Kampi maintained that its standard-bearer, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., will muster 10 million votes to capture the presidency on the May 11 elections. (The Philippine Star)

DOJ CLEARS ERAP ON FVR SLAY PLOT

Opposition presidential candidate Vice-President Joseph Estrada was cleared yesterday by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on his alleged attempt to have President Ramos assasinated in 1992 as alleged by controversial police Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya. "It (Berroya allegation) cannot serve as a basis for filing criminal charges against the Vice President . The assertions of Berroya against Estrada are probably tru, but there is no overt act," said Justice Undersecretary Jesus Zozobrado, head of the five-member DOJ panel that investigated Berroya’s claims. Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary epimaco Velasco conceded that there was no evidence to link, Estrada, to any criminal activity. (The Philippine Star)