Presidential aspirant and former Defense chief Norberto Gonzales has warned against a possible foreign intervention in the 2022 elections as he expressed fear over poll cheating that also allegedly happened in 2010.
During Manila Bulletin's "MB Hot Seat" aired Monday night, Gonzales said it will be his "source of major sadness" if a foreigner intervenes with the country's elections.
"Para bang hindi nirerespeto ang bayan natin, para bang takaw na takaw yung iba na may interest satin na tayo'y pakialamanan... pinaglalaruan tayo (It seems they don't respect our country and they are very eager to meddle with our affairs. They are playing with us)," he said.
Gonzales did not directly say which country would step in the country's election process, but hinted that they are either two of the superpowers that are close to the Philippines.
"Ang masasabi ko lang, mayroong hindi Pilipino na pwedeng tumulong sa mga kaibigang pilipino para mandaya (What I can say is that there is a non-Filipino that will help a Filipino cheat on the elections)" he said.
"Dahil mainit ang bakbakan ng dalawang bansa baka mag counter check sila... Ako naniniwala lang na 'pag may ibang bansang nandaya sa'tin, may ibang bansa din na mangbibisto sa pandaraya (Because there is tension between the two countries, they might counter check each other. I believe that if one country intervenes to cheat, there will be another country that will expose it)," he added.
Before he left his position in the Department of National Defense in 2010, Gonzales said he monitored that year's elections and disclosed it was cheated.
"Siguro pwede na nating aminin kasi katungkulan ko naman 'yun (Perhaps I can already disclose it because it was my responsibility) as a national security adviser, I actually monitor our election in 2010. Dinaya iyon (It was cheated)," he said.
"Ngayon sabi ko hindi na bale, kasi yung papalit sa atin matino eh (I told myself it might be okay because the next leader would be sensible," he added.
Gonzales said he hoped the succeeding leaders would address the loopholes in the electoral process, but instead, "they were even enhanced."
"System ang dinadaya eh. Sana wag magalit sakin yung Comelec (Commission on Elections) (It's the system that's being cheated. I hope Comelec won't get mad at me)," he added.