Malacañang expressed Tuesday openness to the planned inquiry by Congress into the alleged irregularities in the May 10 polls, saying that before the new administration steps in, the issue should be a “closed book.”

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan said the Arroyo government is ready to face any investigation as called for by Speaker Prospero Nograles and several losing presidential candidates.

But he maintained that the reported irregularities were just “isolated incidents” and only formed a small spot in the generally peaceful, orderly and reliable automated polls espoused by outgoing President-turned-congresswoman Mrs. Arroyo.

“It is the duty of the Legislative to ensure that the money of Juan de la Cruz is well-spent for the conduct of the automated May 10 polls,” he told reporters.

Peyuan said they welcomed an investigation to dispel doubts on the integrity of the elections and to finally move the nation forward.

He even challenged those questioning the credibility of the elections to hand over their evidence to back up their claims.

Nograles earlier called on the Comelec to shelve its payment out of the P7.2-billion contract until the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee declares that the automated elections were fraud-free.

Nograles also called for a more thorough examination of the results of the 2010 elections as he admitted feeling “disturbed” with a television film documentary that demonstrated a systematic hacking into an automated polling that is similar to the May 10 poll automation system for the synchronized national and local elections in the country.

The HBO film documentary “Hacking Democracy” created by Harri Hursti is expected to be shown before members of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reform that will conduct a congressional inquiry into allegations of widespread election fraud dubbed “hocus PCOS.”

Nograles said that while he is determined to push for an early proclamation of winners in the presidential and vice presidential races, he wanted to allay fears of the public that hacking of computer compact flash cards were indeed resorted to by the winning candidates.

“I'm hoping that no such hacking similar to this happened in our national elections. This is the reason why I am proposing a random manual count of 800 clustered precincts to be determined by Congress in order to put our country at ease by knowing the truth. This is mandated under the poll automation law,” Nograles said.

Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., chairman of the suffrage committee, said the Lower House will look into “hocus PCOS” complaints of cheating mostly aired by losing candidates.

In a text message, Nograles revealed that he had asked Locsin to convene before the May 24 canvass of the joint session.

“Smartmatic and Comelec must explain if there are provisions of the automated election law that were disregarded or not followed or not implemented,” the House leader said.

Meanwhile, former Solicitor General Frank Chavez yesterday raised serious doubts over the sincerity of president apparent Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s campaign promise of weeding out corruption in the bureaucracy.

Chavez noted that such avowed policy of zero corruption would be gravely compromised if Aquino harnessed people with vested interest as his advisers or Cabinet members.

Chavez said certain personalities have started pre-positioning themselves for juicy positions under the forthcoming Aquino government. He added that some people were already offering posts in the Court of Appeals and the Regional Trial Courts.

He warned Aquino against getting persons that would imperil his policy of “zero tolerance for corruption.”

Also Tuesday, the camp of presidential candidate Joseph Estrada, who is running second to national poll count leader Sen. Noynoy Aquino, claimed that compact flash cards containing pre-programmed data of certain candidates were being peddled at fantastic prices a week before the elections.

Three other presidential bets – Jamby Madrigal, JC de los Reyes and Nicanor Perlas – have also aired suspicions of rigged elections.

Rep. Mary Ann Susano, who ran for QC mayor, said she received an offer of P1 billion for CF cards that will give her substantial margin over his rivals, including proclaimed winner Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Susano bewailed the fact that she placed a poor third in her bailiwick in District II, saying that this alone is a glaring indication that the election results have been manipulated.

The National Movement for Free Elections had also noted discrepancies between the machine and manual count in certain precincts in QC.

Former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, campaign manager of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), explained that an inventory of all 76,475 flash cards would be the only way for the poll body to restore its integrity and credibility.

The PMP said it firmly believes that mounting reports of electronic fraud, pre-programming of compact flash cards, and other serious irregularities are too many to ignore and must be addressed immediately if the results are to be accepted by the public, Maceda said.