Boking's ally: Probe Sambo on 2007 ballot burning

BY: JOEL P. MAPILES


MABALACAT, Pamp. --- A spokesman of incumbent Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales yesterday said that if John Sambo – husband of Nacionalista Party mayoral bet Marjorie Morales Sambo – has personal knowledge about the burning of ballots here after the 2007 polls, then he should face a probe in the proper court.

This came in the heels of a statement made by Sambo during a press conference yesterday that he would be forced to tell the truth in court should the other side of the political fence pinpoint him as the man behind the burning of the ballots in 2007.

“Mapipilitan po ako na magsabi ng aking nalalaman kung ako po ay iniuugnay sa pagkakasunog ng ballots noong nakaraang halalan sa Mabalacat,” Sambo said.

When asked about his knowledge on the issue, Sambo said he will only reveal the truth in proper court.

Deng Pangilinan, on the other hand, said it might be possible for Sambo to know the truth, because he was then a supporter of Gov. Eddie Panlilio, who may have allegedly benefited from the incident.

“Kaya nga si Baby Pineda nagsampa ng kaso dahil dapat ay mabilang iyong mga balota pero nasunog. Hindi na nangyari na pumabor naman sa kanya mga sinusuportahang kandidato na si Panlilio,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said Morales has nothing to gain from the burning of the ballots, as he was already elected and proclaimed then as mayor of the town.

“Ano pang pakialam ni Mayor Morales doon sa insidente, e naproklama na siya bago nangyari ang sunog?” he said.

In a media interview, Morales said the issue being raised by John -- his son-in-law -- is just a figment of his imagination and is politically motivated as the May 10 polls draws near.

It can be recalled that more than half of the 399 ballot boxes were razed in a fire that broke out at a storage room of the Comelec here in 2007. The ballot boxes contained election returns and ballots cast during the last elections.

Then Pampanga gubernatorial bet and Board Member Lilia Pineda filed an election protest before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), claiming that there were irregularities in the canvassing of votes during the last elections, particularly in Mabalacat and other Pampanga towns.