Trillanes has only five poll watchers, mom says

Trillanes has only five poll watchers, mom says

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.InquirerLast updated 01:14am (Mla time) 05/18/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Seeing her son in and out of the Magic 12 as the canvassing of votes for senatorial candidates continues, the 68-year-old mother of detained mutiny leader Antonio Trillanes IV is not at all nervous.
"From the beginning, I have offered everything to God. That is why I don't feel stressed," Estelita Trillanes told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview on Thursday.

Not even the threat of cheating worries her: "You know, when you pray, no evil can overtake you. Dagdag-bawas (vote padding and shaving) is considered evil. How can evil overtake goodness?"

The voices of her grandchildren playing could be heard as she spoke on the phone. She said she was in the house of one of her daughters.

Trillanes' mother was instrumental in ending the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003 when she personally met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an attempt to save her son as the ultimatum for the mutineers’ surrender neared.

On Thursday, she was monitoring the canvassing of votes through news reports. She said her family did not have enough money to pay for poll watchers.

Trillanes of the Genuine Opposition has volunteers, but there are only five of them watching the official canvassing at the Philippine International Convention Center and only two monitoring the quick count by the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections.

"We are leaving it to the Genuine Opposition. We cannot afford individual watchers," the mother said.

Her son's strong showing, despite being behind bars and campaigning with limited funds, did not surprise her.

"We saw during the campaign the attitude of people toward my son. They would approach his campaign volunteers to ask for calendars. Some donated calendars and shirts," she said.

Mrs Trillanes was not active during the campaign, saying she was already too weak to go around places. But she said she asked her friends and relatives to support her son.

In the latest tally of the Commission on Elections as of 5:54 p.m. Thursday, Trillanes placed 10th with 80,823 votes.