Army blames Reds' media bureau for 'Mercury Rising' fuss
The Philippine Army slammed anew the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and local front organizations for causing what the Army termed was "exploitation" of the communist group on the low turnout of votes in Monday's polls.
Taking advantage of the hysteria posed by the purported "Oplan Mercury Rising." Army Captain Lowen Gil Marquez decried the rising mis-information and victimization of the CPP on the masses. Oplan Mercury Rising is reportedly the government's ploy to cheat in the elections and ensure the victory of administration candidates.
"Mercury Rising is exploited by the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army (CPP-NPA) press bureau by destroying the image of the Armed Forces of the Philipines and the government's credibility in counting votes. And they wanted to create an environment of hatred by inventing issues of widespread fraud and cheating. These communists through their media bureau also takes advantage of the decrease in voters' turn-out as compared to the 2004 elections and delay in the counting," Captain Marquez lamented.
While no official count was released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here, Monsignor Meliton Oso of the Jaro Archdiocese and Parish Pastoral Council For Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said early estimates in Iloilo was placed at 65% voters' turnout.
Comelec Regional Director Renato Magbutay in an earlier interview said elections was generally peaceful throughout Western Visayas albeit marked by what the Church decried was massive vote-buying.