SC orders Comelec: Name party-list nominees

SC orders Comelec: Name party-list nominees
By Leila Salaverria, Jerome Aning
Inquirer
Last updated 04:19am (Mla time) 05/04/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Upholding the people’s constitutional right to information and the need for transparency in government, the Supreme Court ordered the Commission on Elections to immediately disclose the names of the party-list nominees or face contempt.

In a unanimous decision reached Thursday following a special en banc session, the high tribunal rebuffed the poll body’s attempts to keep the nominees’ names under wraps until after the ballots are cast on May 14.

“The court said the nondisclosure by the Comelec is against the right to information enshrined in the Constitution under Section 7, Article 3. Also, Section 28, Article 2 enunciates the policy of full disclosure and transparency in government more so where public interest is involved,” Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez told reporters.

Justices Renato Corona and Alicia Austria-Martinez were on leave during the en banc session. Justice Romeo Callejo retired last week.

Marquez said the decision would be promulgated on Friday after all the justices had signed it, and would then be delivered to the Comelec for compliance.

But he said Chief Justice Reynato Puno had authorized the disclosure of the decision Thursday given the urgency of the issue.

The decision, penned by Associate Justice Cancio Garcia, is immediately executory, and the poll body has to report its compliance to the high court within five days of receiving the directive, according to Marquez.

Marquez also said the Comelec would have to comply with the directive even if it decides to file a motion for reconsideration.

In refusing to disclose the names of the party-list nominees, the Comelec said it was not required to do so because the selection of party-list groups should not be personality-oriented.

It also issued a resolution stating that it would only release the names of the nominees at 3 p.m. on Election Day.

Blind voting

But the high court, in directing the Comelec to release the names of party-list nominees, said the nondisclosure of the names was tantamount to propagating “blind voting.”

The tribunal added that the people need to know the nominees so that they could make an informed decision when they choose a party-list group on May 14.

“It has been repeatedly said in various contexts that the people have the right to elect their representatives on the basis of an informed judgment.

“Hence, the need for voters to be informed about matters that have a bearing on their choice. The ideal cannot be achieved in a system of blind voting, as veritably advocated in the assailed resolution of the Comelec,” the high court said, according to a statement from its public information office.

The Supreme Court also said there was no national security concern involved in the disclosure of the names of the party-list nominees.

The high court also junked the Comelec’s argument that the party-list law, Republic Act No. 7941, did not require it to disclose the names.

The tribunal said the Comelec “misread” the law, pointing out that the prohibition imposed on the poll body extended only to the certified list that is required to be posted in polling places on Election Day.

It also said that to stretch the coverage of the prohibition to the absolute was to read into the law something that was not intended.

“As it were, there is absolutely nothing in RA No. 7941 that prohibits the Comelec from disclosing or even publishing through mediums other than the ‘Certified List’ the names of the party-list nominees. The Comelec obviously misread the limited nondisclosure aspect of the provision as an absolute bar to public disclosure before the May 2007 elections,” the Supreme Court said.

Two petitions

The high court issued the directive to the Comelec in response to the two petitions filed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales, Kilosbayan Forum and Bantay Katarungan Foundation, and by the Bantay Republic Act 7941 and Urban Poor for Legal Reforms.

But the high court turned down the plea of Bantay Republic Act 7941 and the Urban Poor for Legal Reforms to disqualify 34 party-list groups for not representing marginalized sectors.

Among the 34 is Biyaheng Langit, which represents tricycle drivers and has for its nominee Dr. Arsenio Abalos, the brother of Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos.

The high court said the issue concerned factual matters that were beyond its ambit.

“The Supreme Court said these are factual issues which the court cannot decide because it could not know if these organizations do not represent the marginalized sectors. It is for the Comelec to decide on this,” Marquez said.

The Sanlakas party-list group welcomed the Supreme Court decision, saying the next challenge now to the Comelec is to “swiftly” disqualify from the party-list race Malacañang “fronts.”

Judy Ann Miranda, Partido ng Manggagawa nominee, praised the high court for backing the people’s right to know the nominees of the party-list group they would be voting for.

The Gabriela Women’s Party Thursday asked the Comelec to disqualify four party-list groups it claimed were “Malacañang fronts.”

In its petition, Gabriela said that Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano (Agbiag), Babae Para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka), the League of Youth for Peace and Development (Lypad) and the Kalahi-Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (Kkalahi) “were not created to represent the interest of marginalized and/or underrepresented sectors but the political interest and ambition of those already in power.”

The four groups were mentioned in an alleged two-page memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated Oct. 16, 2006, seeking funds from the government. The memo was said to have been signed by Malacañang’s Office of External Affairs chief, Assistant Secretary Marcelo Fariñas II.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza, one of the complainants, said the petition was “a way of digging deeper into the existence of a counter-plan to frustrate the Left and opposition from gaining additional seats in Congress through the party-list elections.”

Ducat: ‘Chavit used bus siege for political show’

03/30/2007 | 10:10 PM

Hostage-taker Armando Ducat Jr scored Friday administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson for using the bus siege to advance the latter’s political bid.

GMA’s 24-Oras reported that Ducat handed a letter to GMA News that say: “Stop Corruption, No to Chavit Singson.”

In an interview, Ducat said he was dismayed with the politicking of the Ilocos Sur governor during the hostage crisis.

He said when Singson went inside the bus Wednesday afternoon, the administration bet refused to go down.

Cesar Augustus Carbonell, Ducat’s accomplice, said he phoned Singson, whom he had known for a long time, to tell him that he is involved in the siege but he never asked the Ilocos governor to come.

Ducat said he was irritated when Singson started distributing P500 bills among the children.

Singson admitted that he gave the children money but he insisted that he did it upon the prodding of Ducat.

“Tutuo yan na namigay ako dahil sabi ni Jun Ducat. Sabi niya ‘bigyan mo,’ sabi ko ‘baka ma-disqualify ako.’‘Hindi crisis e, matutuwa yung mga bata’ siya pa nagsabi e,” (It’s true I gave the children money. It was Ducat’s idea. I said to him that I’m risking disqualification but the hostage-taker insisted that it will make the children happy),” he said.

The Ilocos Sur governor said he cannot believe that Ducat and Carbonell had spoken out against him.

“Hindi ako naniniwala, may nagsusulsol sa kanya at kung graft and corruption ang pag-uusapan si dating Pangulong (Joseph) Estrada nakademanda ng graft and corruption, ako puro allegations lang (I think Ducat and Carbonnel were prodded to attack me. When it comes to corruption, we should be talking about former President Joseph Estrada who is charged with plunder),” he said.

Singson, in a press statement said: “Some parties who are probably being manipulated by my political enemies are putting malice into everything that I did, including allegations of political gimmickry.”

He said he was warned by his advisers and campaign staff of the possible backlash and danger to his personal security.

“But when I weighed the pros and cons between the hostage takers themselves asking for help, and the lives of the children at stake, I just instinctively did what a good citizen would do,” Singson added in his statement.

Singson said his political enemies apparently twisted and distorted the true intentions of the incident. He said this “ perhaps the lowest form of political black propaganda and shows their desperation in trying to stop my snowballing candidacy.”

The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, said the political side of the hostage incident is not part of their investigation while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they see nothing wrong with the distribution of P500 bills to the children by Singson. - GMANews.TV

SLOPPY, TAINTED, PARTISAN WORK’

SLOPPY, TAINTED, PARTISAN WORK’ Team Unity files complaint vs SWS surveys By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. Inquirer Last updated 05:33am (Mla time) 05/04/2007 MANILA, Philippines — Accusing the polling organization of bias and partisanship, the administration Team Unity has filed a formal complaint against the Social Weather Stations before the leading global organization of survey and communication researchers. Writing to the World Association for Public Opinion Research, Team Unity media director and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone accused the SWS of “engaging in unscrupulous trending practices and blatant partnership in favor of the political opposition in the run-up to the Philippine mid-term elections on May 14.” The letter, dated April 30, was addressed to Dr. Allan McCutcheon, general secretary of Wapor. “In its mercenary work for the political opposition, the SWS has caused the publication (in the guise of voters’ preference) of tainted surveys that showed the non-existent and entirely fictional preference of Filipino voters for opposition candidates in the senatorial, congressional and local posts up for grabs in this month’s balloting,” said Evardone. Evardone cited an SWS survey that showed that voters preferred opposition candidates in most of the local races. “The problem is the political opposition has no competitive candidates in 80 percent of local races. In over 200 congressional races at stake in May 14, the local opposition does not have candidates in 68 districts and only 20 percent of its limited candidates are competitive,” he said in the letter. Evardone also accused the SWS of using “slanted and accusatory questions that virtually coerced survey respondents into validating the pro-opposition bias instead of eliciting true voters’ preference.” He cited as examples statements like, “PGMA [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] steals from the coffers of the country” and “PGMA will cheat in the coming elections in order for her candidates to win,” in which respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed. Evardone claimed that this particular SWS survey caused such a public “uproar” that it had to admit that the survey was commissioned by Sen. Sergio Osmeña Jr., the campaign manager of the Genuine Opposition coalition. With its “sloppy, tainted and partisan work,” the SWS has failed to give a clear picture of voters’ preferences, he said. “The SWS has done a great disservice to the polling profession and is about to muddle up the Philippine elections in an obvious attempt to condition the public on the supposed victory of the opposition on May 14,” said Evardone. “Polling firms are supposed to carry out clinical and unbiased surveys of voters’ sentiment and not to work as a tool in furthering partisan interest. They are supposed to be free from biases and partisanship,” he said. According to Evardone, the SWS has been forced to resort to “mercenary and partisan work” because of financial difficulties. He claimed the polling organization has been abandoned by some of its partners such as the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and TNS Trends, the outfit that used to do the field work for SWS.

Singson disputes GMA News report on vote-buying try in N Ecija

04/25/2007 | 11:01 PM

Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson disputed a GMA News report Wednesday night that he promised cash incentives to Nueva Ecija village heads when he asked for their vote recently during a gathering in the province.

“Walang P50,000 (I’m not giving away P50,000),” Singson told GMA’s News on Q in a telephone interview minutes after it aired a report that the Team Unity bet is in trouble for allegedly buying the votes of village heads in the province.

GMA News’ 24 Oras earlier in the night also aired the same report by Tina Panganiban Perez.

“Hinihiling nila anting-anting dahil hindi raw ako namamatay o di sabi ko sige bibigyan ko kayo ng anting-anting (They are asking for my amulet because I have cheated death so I said OK I will give them amulets),” he told News on Q anchor Rhea Santos.

Singson said he would still welcome any investigation that would be initiated by the Commission on Elections into the vote-buying allegation.

“Kung may magrereklamo e di hihintayin ko sila sa Comelec (If there would be complaints I will see them at the Comelec),” he said.

An earlier footage of the news program showed Singson appealing to village heads:“Ako meron ding sariling ibibigay bawat barangay kung makapasok ako ng… 12 naman yan e di ba marami. Ipasok nyo ako ng one to five meron din po akong ibibigay na limampung libo bawat barangay.”

(I also have something for each barangay if could make it…it’s only a 12-man slot but it’s a lot. If you could make me land in the top five I would give 50,000 to each village.)

After noticing that there were members of media among the audience, Singson quickly clarified his statement by saying each barangay would receive 50,000 amulets and not money.

“Anting-anting ha baka sabihin nila namumudmod na naman tayo ng pera. 50,000 anting-anting ibibigay ko sa bawat barangay. Baka banatan na naman tayo may media yata,” he said.

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits any person from giving, offering or giving money or anything of value in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate. The act is considered vote-buying.

The Commission on Elections had warned Manny Pacquiao, congressional candidate in General Santos, from giving “balato” or bonus to his constituents after he knocked down Mexican boxer Jorge Solis.

“It sounds improper that these statements should be made especially for a candidate. Definitely a candidate should avoid all possibilities of appearing to use money to get votes,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in reaction to Singson’s offer.

Singson had drawn flak for giving money during a raffle in one of their provincial sorties.

He also gave P500 to the day care children held hostage by businessman Armando Ducat. -

‘Jueteng’ men called to help in Bong Pineda wife’s gov bid

Inquirer Last updated 06:01am (Mla time) 05/04/2007 CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Suspected “jueteng” lord Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda has met with 2,000 kabo (area managers) and kubrador (collectors) of the illegal numbers game on Wednesday night and tapped their help in the gubernatorial campaign of his wife, Board Member Lilia Pineda, according to her rival, Catholic priest Eddie Panlilio in a statement here on Thursday. Pineda, 57, could not be reached for comment. He earlier told the Inquirer he was not running jueteng or STL in Pampanga. Panlilio said he learned of the meeting from a collector in Bacolor town who was present in the gathering held at the farm-resort of Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca in Barangay Macabacle, also in Bacolor. Reached by phone, Dungca said it was he who invited Bong Pineda to come to his place. “I told him there are many people in my resort and that Nanay Baby (Lilia) is not here so would he care to come over, meet them, talk to them about her campaign,” the mayor said. Dungca admitted that the crowd comprised of “some STL collectors from Bacolor, but many were barrio folks.” Panlilio said he has reasons to be “alarmed” about the meeting because it showed the “apparent role of jueteng in the campaign of Lilia Pineda.” He has campaigned on a platform of good governance, with plans to stop jueteng and quarry corruption, issues that are linked to Lilia Pineda, 56, and reelectionist Gov. Mark Lapid, 28. Sorry At the same time, Panlilio said he “felt sorry for these workers whose only interest is to earn a living for their families. They are being used in electoral campaigning.” Those who came reportedly work in the City of San Fernando and in the towns of Sta. Ana, Mexico and Bacolor—all in the province’s third district. The informant reported not seeing Lilia Pineda in the meeting. Reached by phone, she said she did not know about the event. An Inquirer source involved in her campaign could not confirm the meeting either but surmised that if Bong Pineda indeed held one, it could be his own initiative to help his wife. Lilia Pineda had said that in the 19 years that she held public office, her husband had stayed out of politics. The net worth of his wealth is not known. Panlilio’s source claimed that Bong Pineda arrived at midnight and gave a brief speech. “(He asked us) to ensure the winning of Baby (Lilia’s nickname).” Bong Pineda was said to have also spoken against the priest by saying, “This early he’s been begging for money.” The informant took that to mean that Panlilio was making money out of the donations to his campaign. Donations Panlilio said his campaign is run on private donations that are “properly accounted for by a finance committee and judiciously used by (my) campaign managers.” The informant reported that collectors were not given money yet. He believed that money could come later because their area managers “remained for another meeting with 1-2.” Those numbers are the name they call Bong Pineda, a native of Lubao town. Also on Thursday, Lapid fielded personnel to check on reports that money was being distributed in the meetings of Lilia Pineda at a restaurant here and in Cutud, Arayat. Pineda said the reports were “not true.” The Wednesday meeting, and the reported incidents of vote-buying, saw Panlilio making appeals to voters to “choose candidates who are good, honest and genuinely committed to public good.”

Transco to ensure uninterrupted power supply in May polls

By Judy Quiros
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 07:05pm (Mla time) 05/03/2007
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Power companies nationwide have mapped out contingency plans, including the reactivation of Task Force Halalan (TFH), to ensure that there will be continuous and reliable electric supply throughout the rest of the election period, especially on the May 14 balloting, the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) has said.

The TFH is an interagency body that was created to prevent power blackouts in the 2004 elections.

It included Transco, National Power Corporation (Napocor), National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

“The reliable supply of electricity nationwide is crucial in ensuring transparency and integrity of the electoral process,” Arthur Aguilar, Transco president and chief executive officer, said in a statement emailed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday.

Aguilar said that during its meeting on April 12, TFH members agreed on major issues, including security arrangement for power facilities.

Aguilar said TFH members agreed that no maintenance works on power plants, transmission lines and substations would be conducted from May 12 to May 17.

“Preparations are going on smoothly,” he said.

Aguilar said the TFH command center, to be located at the Transco head office in Manila, would operate starting May 12.

“The center will be electronically linked to Transco’s regional and area control centers nationwide 24 hours a day until May 17,” Aguilar said.

He said aside from being the official source of information, the center would take charge of overseeing the nationwide monitoring and reporting system on power situation.

Aguilar said in the event that blackouts could not be avoided, Napocor would make use of its quick-start generating units to restore power.

Transco, he said, also made sure that uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units in all area control centers and emergency diesel generators, station batteries and air compressor systems in all its substations nationwide were tested for reliability.

“Transco’s area control centers nationwide are prepared to undertake immediate ‘islanding operations’ or power restoration activities independent of each other,” Aguilar said.

inquirer 

Singson ‘money’ sparks near-fight in Negros

04/26/2007 | 04:33 PM

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For the nth time, administration senatorial candidate Luis Singson is at the center of another election-related controversy, this time in EB Magalona town in Negros Occidental.

Sun-Star Bacolod (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Thursday afternoon that Singson’s money sparked a near-fight between Mayor Alfonso Gamboa and 20 village chiefs.

The incident, which occurred Wednesday, marred the opening of the Ugyonan Festival in the town.

Singson reportedly left P46,000 for some village chiefs when he visited the province-wide Barangay (village) Assembly at the Panaad Park in Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Friday last week.

The money was intended for the village chiefs of EB Magalona, who were supposed to receive P2,000 each from the money given by Singson.

Of the 23 village heads, 20 of them confronted Gamboa at his office and demanded the release of Singson’s money.

Barangay Madalag chief Erwin Antonio said the P46,000 was intended for the 23 of them, “like what other barangay chiefs from other towns and cities in the province received.”

He said the amount was given to a certain mayor in the north who was asked to give it to Gamboa.

“But when we confronted him Wednesday, Gamboa said he won’t give the money to us because we’re his political enemies so he will just return the money to Chavit,” Antonio said.

As of late Wednesday, the Sun-Star report said at least four village chiefs got their P2,000 each. - GMANews.TV

Comelec taps TransCo for elections

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 07:16pm (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections has deputized the National Transmission Corp. to ensure uninterrupted power supply come May 14.

Comelec resolution 7879, approved on May 2, indicated that the government-owned power distribution corporation would provide all resources needed by the poll body, including transportation.

TransCo is an independent government corporation created under the Epira Law that was enacted in 2001. It is no longer connected with the National Power Corp.

TransCo has created its own contingency plan and task force to aid the Comelec during the mid-term elections.

Drilon, Binay assail alleged wiretapping of Aquino’s phone

Drilon, Binay assail alleged wiretapping of Aquino’s phone
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 08:15pm (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Two leading opposition members on Thursday assailed as a “shameful act” the alleged wiretapping of former president Corazon Aquino’s telephone line.

In a joint statement issued Thursday, Senator Franklin Drilon and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the incident was reminiscent of the phone bugging scandal in 2005, when the opposition alleged that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was caught on tape talking to former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about ensuring her victory in the 2004 polls.

“The wiretapping of President Aquino’s residence is reminiscent of the Hello Garci scandal and underscores anew the penchant of those in power to violate the law to pursue political interest,” they said.

Phone repairmen working near the home of Aquino found an alleged wiretapping device and a tape recorder inside the area’s telephone switching box.

Aquino, 74, a political icon who restored democracy in the Philippines after leading a 1986 People Power Revolt, said she suspected her phone was bugged “ever since the martial law” period in the 1970s.

Drilon said the incident “only shows that those with the capability to wiretap no longer respect sitting presidents or former presidents in doing their illegal activities.”

“We must condemn this shameful act done against a well-respected figure of the opposition,” he added. “It is unfortunate that a person credited for restoring democracy in the Philippines would be subjected to such filthy, undemocratic act such as illegal wiretapping.”

Binay said the incident indicated a “pattern of harassment and persecution of opposition leaders in the face of the forthcoming trashing of TEAM Unity candidates in the May 14 elections.”

He was confident the voting populace would show their displeasure over this “dirty trick” of Malacañang by junking the administration senatorial bets.

Quezon City police chief Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said police were investigating.

In the last three months, Aquino has been campaigning for her son, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who is running for senator in an opposition coalition.

Allegations of wiretapping have been an explosive issue since the disputed 2004 polls, when the opposition alleged Arroyo conspired to rig the vote.

The allegations are based on wiretapped phone calls allegedly between an election official and Arroyo, where they purportedly spoke of ensuring a million-vote victory margin for her.

Arroyo has apologized for talking to an election official, but it never became clear who wiretapped the president. She has denied any wrongdoing, and has survived two impeachment attempts in the House of Representatives, where her allies are in majority.

The Black and White Movement, an opposition group calling for Arroyo’s resignation, said it was “shocked and dismayed to learn of the wiretapping of Cory Aquino.”

“If she can be tapped, we are all in danger,” the group said, adding that those responsible for the alleged 2004 election wiretaps were never brought to justice. With The Associated Press

Drilon, Binay assail alleged wiretapping of Aquino’s phone

Drilon, Binay assail alleged wiretapping of Aquino’s phone
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 08:15pm (Mla time) 05/03/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Two leading opposition members on Thursday assailed as a “shameful act” the alleged wiretapping of former president Corazon Aquino’s telephone line.

In a joint statement issued Thursday, Senator Franklin Drilon and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the incident was reminiscent of the phone bugging scandal in 2005, when the opposition alleged that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was caught on tape talking to former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about ensuring her victory in the 2004 polls.

“The wiretapping of President Aquino’s residence is reminiscent of the Hello Garci scandal and underscores anew the penchant of those in power to violate the law to pursue political interest,” they said.

Phone repairmen working near the home of Aquino found an alleged wiretapping device and a tape recorder inside the area’s telephone switching box.

Aquino, 74, a political icon who restored democracy in the Philippines after leading a 1986 People Power Revolt, said she suspected her phone was bugged “ever since the martial law” period in the 1970s.

Drilon said the incident “only shows that those with the capability to wiretap no longer respect sitting presidents or former presidents in doing their illegal activities.”

“We must condemn this shameful act done against a well-respected figure of the opposition,” he added. “It is unfortunate that a person credited for restoring democracy in the Philippines would be subjected to such filthy, undemocratic act such as illegal wiretapping.”

Binay said the incident indicated a “pattern of harassment and persecution of opposition leaders in the face of the forthcoming trashing of TEAM Unity candidates in the May 14 elections.”

He was confident the voting populace would show their displeasure over this “dirty trick” of Malacañang by junking the administration senatorial bets.

Quezon City police chief Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said police were investigating.

In the last three months, Aquino has been campaigning for her son, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who is running for senator in an opposition coalition.

Allegations of wiretapping have been an explosive issue since the disputed 2004 polls, when the opposition alleged Arroyo conspired to rig the vote.

The allegations are based on wiretapped phone calls allegedly between an election official and Arroyo, where they purportedly spoke of ensuring a million-vote victory margin for her.

Arroyo has apologized for talking to an election official, but it never became clear who wiretapped the president. She has denied any wrongdoing, and has survived two impeachment attempts in the House of Representatives, where her allies are in majority.

The Black and White Movement, an opposition group calling for Arroyo’s resignation, said it was “shocked and dismayed to learn of the wiretapping of Cory Aquino.”

“If she can be tapped, we are all in danger,” the group said, adding that those responsible for the alleged 2004 election wiretaps were never brought to justice. With The Associated Press