With just a little over two weeks before the May 10 elections, poll machine supplier Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) on Friday announced that it has finished printing the more than 50 million ballots needed for the automated elections.
Smartmatic-Asia president Cesar Flores said they have finished printing 50,850,940 ballots before their self-imposed deadline on April 25, Sunday. "We finished printing two days before the deadline," he said.
In a text message to GMANews.TV, Smartmatic spokesman Gene Gregorio said they finished printing Thursday midnight. Printing of the official ballots began on February 8 at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City.
Gregorio said the delivery of the ballots to different areas nationwide will begin on Sunday. Smartmatic has been awarded the contract to deliver the ballots.
There are 50,723,734 registered voters for the May 10 elections. The total number of printed ballots include those being used in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Villar camp: ‘Illegal stock deal’ is black prop, or else sue us
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental—Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. on Thursday dismissed as black propaganda the accusations that he used his influence to manipulate the stock market and get favors for his companies.
"Alam mo, lahat na yan ay kasama sa programa na inaasahan natin hanggang dumating ang araw ng halalan... Maliwanag na wala akong ginagawang masama at pulitika lamang (You know, all of that comes with the program we expect until election day… It’s clear I did nothing wrong but just practice politics)," Villar told reporters in a press conference here.
He said it was not the first time that he heard of such allegation, adding that it was just being revived and dragged to divert the people's attention.
"Gusto nila alisin ang issue sa tanong kung sino ba talaga ang may kakayahan na mamuno ng ating pamahalaan, sino ba ang may track record maging pangulo ng bayan (They want to divert the issue from the question of who is truly capable of leading the government, who has the track record to serve as the country’s president)," he said.
'Discuss at proper forum'
"Alam mo, lahat na yan ay kasama sa programa na inaasahan natin hanggang dumating ang araw ng halalan... Maliwanag na wala akong ginagawang masama at pulitika lamang (You know, all of that comes with the program we expect until election day… It’s clear I did nothing wrong but just practice politics)," Villar told reporters in a press conference here.
He said it was not the first time that he heard of such allegation, adding that it was just being revived and dragged to divert the people's attention.
"Gusto nila alisin ang issue sa tanong kung sino ba talaga ang may kakayahan na mamuno ng ating pamahalaan, sino ba ang may track record maging pangulo ng bayan (They want to divert the issue from the question of who is truly capable of leading the government, who has the track record to serve as the country’s president)," he said.
'Discuss at proper forum'
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Gordon sues SWS, Pulse Asia over election-related surveys
Presidential candidate Richard Gordon has sued Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations (SWS) for damages over the pollsters’ alleged bias in conducting pre-election surveys.
Gordon filed his suit before a Quezon City regional trial court through lawyer Chito Diaz on Thursday morning. The senator also asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.
If granted, the restraining order will mean survey results will not be released for the meantime. A hearing for a longer preliminary injunction will then be held. If the injunction is issued, SWS and Pulse Asia won’t be able to release survey results until the case is resolved.
"It is about time that these survey companies be held accountable for their false and misleading surveys. It is a fact that surveys tend to create a bandwagon effect on the voters and effectively strips off voters of their right to select their candidates based on their platform and credentials," Gordon said in a statement.
Pre-election surveys have shown that Gordon had been getting only 2–3 percent voters’ preference.
Gordon filed his suit before a Quezon City regional trial court through lawyer Chito Diaz on Thursday morning. The senator also asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.
If granted, the restraining order will mean survey results will not be released for the meantime. A hearing for a longer preliminary injunction will then be held. If the injunction is issued, SWS and Pulse Asia won’t be able to release survey results until the case is resolved.
"It is about time that these survey companies be held accountable for their false and misleading surveys. It is a fact that surveys tend to create a bandwagon effect on the voters and effectively strips off voters of their right to select their candidates based on their platform and credentials," Gordon said in a statement.
Pre-election surveys have shown that Gordon had been getting only 2–3 percent voters’ preference.
Villar earned billions from illegal stock deal in ‘07 — Erap camp
Senator Manuel Villar Jr. allegedly pressured corporate regulators into allowing him to sell stocks of his listed holding company — in violation of stock market rules — in 2007 so he could fund his presidential campaign.
The camp of former President Joseph Estrada bared this allegation in a press briefing on Thursday, accusing the Nacionalista Party presidential bet of making P5 billion from the allegedly irregular transaction, a charge that Villar’s camp quickly dismissed.
Estrada, who was booted out of office by a popular street uprising before his impeachment trial could finish in 2001, was himself tagged as having profited from selling BW Resources shares in 1999, in what was dubbed then as the Philippines’ biggest share price manipulation scandal.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile claimed Villar met with the Philippine Stock Exchange board three years ago to pressure its members into bending the so-called lock-up rule so he could sell his stake in Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. after it got listed on the bourse.
Under the rules, a shareholder who owns at least a tenth of a company being listed on the exchange cannot sell his shares until after six months.
One of Villar’s real estate companies that had a stake in Vista land was supposedly exempted from the 180-day lock-up period.
This, Enrile alleged, had allowed Villar, who was Senate president at that time, to make almost P5 billion from the stock sale.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Senator Manuel Villar himself lobbied and exerted pressure to railroad the approval of his family-owned company’s request for exemption to enable him and his family to sell their shares, which were otherwise subject to a lock-up at a hefty premium," Enrile said.
The reelectionist senator added that Villar might have "blackmailed" the PSE board members into allowing him to sell the stocks.
"Did Senator Manny Villar, as has been the talk in business circles, really threaten the PSE with a Senate investigation of the shenanigans of its own members?... If such is a fact, I call on the PSE board to say so," he said.
Enrile said Villar’s use of his position for personal gain betrays the presidential bet’s "real character." "Sinira ni Manny Villar at ng mga kasabwat niya sa PSE Board ang integridad ng Philippine Stock Exchange. Ito ba ang uri ng tao na dapat iluklok ng sambayanan bilang susunod na Pangulo ng Pilipinas? (Manny Villar and his cohorts on the PSE board destroyed the integrity of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Is this the kind of person who should become the next Philippine President?)"
But the Philippine Stock Exchange said Vista Land had complied with its listing rules.
"The PSE board had earlier approved the public offering of Vista Land and in a subsequent meeting in 2007 clarified that the lock-up rule would not apply to the sale by existing shareholders owning less than 10 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the company at the time of the offering," PSE Chairman Hans B. Sicat said in a statement.
Earlier reports put Villar’s stake in the holding firm through Polar Property at 8.5 percent — less than the 10-percent floor — or 722.61 million shares.
“The PSE is committed to the development of the capital markets of our country and implements its rules to protect the interest of its stakeholders and the investing public," the exchange said.
‘Black propaganda’
Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Adel Tamano dismissed the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s accusations as black propaganda.
“We are committed to running a positive campaign. Let’s forget the personal attacks and mudslinging and focus on our platforms and qualifications so the voters can choose wisely," Tamano said in a text message to GMANews.TV.
Tamano used to be the spokesman of the Estrada-led Genuine Opposition, before the senatorial candidate moved to Villar’s party in 2009.
He added that Villar’s legal team had already addressed the issue before.
Estrada, however, said in a separate interview the "exposé" was not meant to derail Villar’s candidacy.
"I don’t want to mudsling (sic) any of the presidential candidates. I want a high-level campaign, but I was forced to reveal this because these are well-documented and the public has the right to know," he said.
The former President, convicted of plunder in 2007 before he was pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said he found out about Villar’s meeting with the PSE board four months ago, but had to make sure the allegations were true.
"We had to gather documents. I might be accused of mudslinging, unless we have the documents to prove this," he added.
Despite his camp’s accusations, Estrada said he would not start another disqualification case against his "friend" Villar.
"I will not initiate that. Maybe other people might do that. In fairness to my friend, Senator Villar, I won’t initiate that," he said.
The camp of former President Joseph Estrada bared this allegation in a press briefing on Thursday, accusing the Nacionalista Party presidential bet of making P5 billion from the allegedly irregular transaction, a charge that Villar’s camp quickly dismissed.
Estrada, who was booted out of office by a popular street uprising before his impeachment trial could finish in 2001, was himself tagged as having profited from selling BW Resources shares in 1999, in what was dubbed then as the Philippines’ biggest share price manipulation scandal.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile claimed Villar met with the Philippine Stock Exchange board three years ago to pressure its members into bending the so-called lock-up rule so he could sell his stake in Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. after it got listed on the bourse.
Under the rules, a shareholder who owns at least a tenth of a company being listed on the exchange cannot sell his shares until after six months.
One of Villar’s real estate companies that had a stake in Vista land was supposedly exempted from the 180-day lock-up period.
This, Enrile alleged, had allowed Villar, who was Senate president at that time, to make almost P5 billion from the stock sale.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Senator Manuel Villar himself lobbied and exerted pressure to railroad the approval of his family-owned company’s request for exemption to enable him and his family to sell their shares, which were otherwise subject to a lock-up at a hefty premium," Enrile said.
The reelectionist senator added that Villar might have "blackmailed" the PSE board members into allowing him to sell the stocks.
"Did Senator Manny Villar, as has been the talk in business circles, really threaten the PSE with a Senate investigation of the shenanigans of its own members?... If such is a fact, I call on the PSE board to say so," he said.
Enrile said Villar’s use of his position for personal gain betrays the presidential bet’s "real character." "Sinira ni Manny Villar at ng mga kasabwat niya sa PSE Board ang integridad ng Philippine Stock Exchange. Ito ba ang uri ng tao na dapat iluklok ng sambayanan bilang susunod na Pangulo ng Pilipinas? (Manny Villar and his cohorts on the PSE board destroyed the integrity of the Philippine Stock Exchange. Is this the kind of person who should become the next Philippine President?)"
But the Philippine Stock Exchange said Vista Land had complied with its listing rules.
"The PSE board had earlier approved the public offering of Vista Land and in a subsequent meeting in 2007 clarified that the lock-up rule would not apply to the sale by existing shareholders owning less than 10 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the company at the time of the offering," PSE Chairman Hans B. Sicat said in a statement.
Earlier reports put Villar’s stake in the holding firm through Polar Property at 8.5 percent — less than the 10-percent floor — or 722.61 million shares.
“The PSE is committed to the development of the capital markets of our country and implements its rules to protect the interest of its stakeholders and the investing public," the exchange said.
‘Black propaganda’
Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Adel Tamano dismissed the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s accusations as black propaganda.
“We are committed to running a positive campaign. Let’s forget the personal attacks and mudslinging and focus on our platforms and qualifications so the voters can choose wisely," Tamano said in a text message to GMANews.TV.
Tamano used to be the spokesman of the Estrada-led Genuine Opposition, before the senatorial candidate moved to Villar’s party in 2009.
He added that Villar’s legal team had already addressed the issue before.
Estrada, however, said in a separate interview the "exposé" was not meant to derail Villar’s candidacy.
"I don’t want to mudsling (sic) any of the presidential candidates. I want a high-level campaign, but I was forced to reveal this because these are well-documented and the public has the right to know," he said.
The former President, convicted of plunder in 2007 before he was pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said he found out about Villar’s meeting with the PSE board four months ago, but had to make sure the allegations were true.
"We had to gather documents. I might be accused of mudslinging, unless we have the documents to prove this," he added.
Despite his camp’s accusations, Estrada said he would not start another disqualification case against his "friend" Villar.
"I will not initiate that. Maybe other people might do that. In fairness to my friend, Senator Villar, I won’t initiate that," he said.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Erap Estrada Update 4/20/2010
Estrada gets surprise greetings from Teodoro, Aquino
TAYTAY, RIZAL—On his 73rd birthday Monday, former President Joseph Estrada got surprise birthday greetings from Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, but not a word from Sen. Manuel Villar, the man Estrada considers his bitter rival.
On the eve of his birthday, he was gifted with a brand new Toyota Sequoia SUV (Platinum model retails between $56,180 and $59,405 in the US) by his wife, former Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito and their children. In turn, he promised to lessen his smoking even as he claimed that his lungs remained “clear.”
Having heard of Estrada’s lavish praises on him since last week, administration candidate Teodoro phoned the former president Monday morning for a customary “Happy Birthday” greeting, and more.
Estrada considers Teodoro the most qualified, besides himself, among the present crop of presidential wannabes.
TAYTAY, RIZAL—On his 73rd birthday Monday, former President Joseph Estrada got surprise birthday greetings from Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, but not a word from Sen. Manuel Villar, the man Estrada considers his bitter rival.
On the eve of his birthday, he was gifted with a brand new Toyota Sequoia SUV (Platinum model retails between $56,180 and $59,405 in the US) by his wife, former Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito and their children. In turn, he promised to lessen his smoking even as he claimed that his lungs remained “clear.”
Having heard of Estrada’s lavish praises on him since last week, administration candidate Teodoro phoned the former president Monday morning for a customary “Happy Birthday” greeting, and more.
Estrada considers Teodoro the most qualified, besides himself, among the present crop of presidential wannabes.
Manny Villar Update 4/20/2010
Villar's disqualification sought over ‘prohibited’ campaign funds
A lawyer of one of the presidential contenders in the May 10 elections on Monday formally asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar for allegedly receiving "prohibited" campaign contributions.In a 14-page complaint, Ernesto Francisco, lawyer of independent candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal, said that there is “probable cause" to charge Villar with an election offense for receiving "prohibited" political contributions.
Francisco was referring to his earlier petition asking the poll body to look into the source of the senator's campaign funds.
“Routine"
Noynoy Aquino Update 4/20/2010
Andal Jr. backs Noynoy-Mar but LP bet says ‘No thanks’
(Update 2 - 7:22 p.m.) Andal Ampatuan Jr., a member of the powerful Ampatuan clan and the prime suspect in the murder of 57 people in Maguindanao, claimed that his family will support Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino and his running mate Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas for the May 10 polls, even as the LP presidential bet said, "No thanks."Clad in a yellow shirt and baller at a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa on Tuesday, detained Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Jr. said his father, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Sr., believes that their family can only attain real justice under an Aquino administration.
"Basta't ito po ang aming desisyon, susuportahan namin si Sen. Noynoy dahil siya ang nakikita namin na makakapagpabago sa gobyerno at makakakuha kami ng hustisya (we will support Sen. Noynoy because we believe he can reform the government and give us justice), he said."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Bro. Eddie Villanueva Update 4/19/2010
Bro. Eddie, Noynoy lead in HK polls: report
MANILA, Philippines - Bangon Pilipinas Party standard-bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III are leading the vote in the early results of the 2010 overseas absentee voting in Hong Kong, a newspaper for overseas Filipinos said. An exit poll conducted by the Sun on the first Sunday of voting held last April 11 showed Villanueva ahead with 396 votes, or 36.1% of the total 2901 votes cast. Aquino has 392 votes or 35.7%. Running a distant 3rd is Manny Villar with 204 votes or 18.6%.Other presidential candidates received only marginal support: Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masa ng Pilipinas (PMP) had 34 votes; Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Lakas) with 26; Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan-VNP (B. Bayan) with 22; and Jamby Madrigal (Independent) with 2. Two other candidates, JC de los Reyes of Ang Kasangga Party (AKP) and Jesus Perlas (Independent), did not get a single vote.
In the vice presidential race, Aquino's running-mate, Mar Roxas, slightly edged out Bangon Pilipinas vice-presidential bet Perfecto Yasay Jr. Roxas received 326 votes, or 30.2%, while Yasay was just 1 vote down at 325, or 29.6%.
Third in the race was Villar's running mate, Loren Legarda, with 198 votes, or 18%.
Erap Estrada Update 4/19/2010
Erap to legalize ‘jueteng’ if he wins
Erap to legalize ‘jueteng’ if he winsBy Charlie Lagasca (The Philippine Star)
April 19, 2010
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) presidential bet former President Joseph Estrada admitted here last Saturday that his campaign has experienced funding problems, unlike his successful bid in the 1998 elections.
He said he is one of the cash-strapped presidential candidates and his campaign is practically running on donations from numerous supporters “who continue to believe in our mission.”
Estrada also reiterated that he would work for the legalization of the numbers game jueteng if elected president.
“I don’t see the logic of wealthy individuals entering into casinos and poor ones betting in jueteng. Don’t tell me those gambling inside casinos will go to heaven if they die and those betting on jueteng will go to hell,” said Estrada.
Estrada’s group had a series of campaign sorties in Bayombong and Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.
“Our campaign is practically surviving through the help of some friends and supporters,” he said.
He said the warm reception and continued adulation of the people for their team have encouraged him and his party mates to continue the campaign.
Gibo Teodoro Update 4/19/2010
STOP MIGRATION TO METRO MANILA BY DEVELOPING PROVINCES-GIBO
SILANG, Cavite—Pushing for development in the countryside and tapping their economic potential is the key to plugging the movement of people from the provinces to Metro Manila and greater Manila areas like Cavite, said Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro in an evening political rally here over the weekend.
“Nagiging problema ang pagdagsa ng tao sa Kamaynilaan at sa Cavite dahil sa nakakakita sila ng mga oportunidad dito [The migration of people to Manila and Cavite to look for opportunities is starting to become a problem],” said the former defense secretary. “Paano solusyonan ito? Hindi dito sa Maynila o Cavite, kungdi kung saan sila nanggagaling. [Where do we find the solution for this? Not in Manila or Cavite, but in the provinces from where they came from].”
The Harvard-trained lawyer and bar topnotcher said the migration of people from the provinces to Metro Manila and greater Manila areas like Cavite, has been a major challenge when it comes to urbanization and development.
“Pag di natin sila binigyan ng oportunidad sa kanilang probinsya, dadagsa sila dito at masasakal tayo sa dami ng tao. [If we don’t give them opportunities in provinces, throngs of them will come here, and Cavite and Metro Manila will be congested with too much people],” he said. “Pag ganu’n, ang pondo na dapat gamitin ng mayor para sa pag-seserbisyo sa tao mahahati lalo para sa mga taong galing sa ibang lugar [If that happens, the funds allocated for services will be divided further for the people coming from other provinces].”
Gibo urged the build-up of home-grown opportunities in the provinces, from eco-tourism to agriculture. By tapping the economic potential of the provinces, opportunities will be created, and country folk will no longer find the need to try their luck in the cities, said the ruling party presidential bet.
Gibo spoke on a makeshift stage, before a throng of people who crammed the “lucky” compound of Silang Mayor Areng Poblete. The queue of Caviteños waiting to get a glimpse of Gibo, and hoping to meet him, overflowed from the compound into the streets.
Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of Caviteños poured into the streets from all over Cavite, and later converged at a giant proclamation rally held under a fierce noonday sun at the General Trias Convention Center. Unmindful of the wilting heat, the crowd showed their overwhelming support for Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gibo Teodoro.
Mirroring Friday’s astonishing Mandaluyong salvo, which drew over 30,000 people, the massive assembly of people at the General Trias Center raised their arms, waved green flags, and screamed their support for the former defense secretary.
The night before, some 30,000 people jammed the streets of Mandaluyong City in support for Gibo’s candidacy.
The huge throng of humanity snaked though this metropolitan city, tagged by international investors as a “Tiger City” for its vibrant infrastructure and pro-investment climate, most of them coming from the city’s teeming tenement areas and posh villages that have existed side-by-side with each other for decades.
“This is why I don’t believe surveys”, thundered the former defense secretary, as he basked in the glow of support of supporters who took to major routes like Nuebe de Pebrero, Shaw Boulevard and Martinez Highway, to surround the wooden stage built for the night’s rally.
Unfazed by the surging, green-clad crowd, residents from 26 out of 27 barangays of this city with over 200,000 voters repeatedly chanted “Dapat Gibo!” while holding out Gibo banners and waving green flags.
Gibo’s reception in Cavite the following day was just just as overwhelming. “Kahit na alam kong madaming pupunta para makita at madinig si Gibo, pinili ko pa ding dito maganap ang rally at hindi sa plaza kasi swerte ang lugar na ito [Even though I know people will come here in throngs just for Gibo, I still chose this place to hold the rally instead of the plaza, because I believe there’s luck here],” said Mayor Poblete.
“Iba-ibang presidente na ang pumunta para mag-rally dito at nananalo sila. Tulad ni FVR na dati’y pang-apat lang sa surveys, pumunta siya dito ilang linggo bago ang eleksyon at siya ay nanalo. [Different presidents already came here and won, like FVR who was just fourth in surveys. He came here just a few weeks before the elections, and he won],” Poblete revealed
“Tulad ng pagkakapanalo namin kay FVR dito sa Silang, papapanalunin din namin si Gibo dito sa Silang (Just like when we helped FVR win here in Silang, we will help Gibo win),” Poblete declared. He said Silang has more than 100,000 registered voters, and 58 out of 64 barangays support Gibo.
“Pati na din ang dalawa pa sa malalaking bayan ng Cavite, tulad ng Dasmarinas at Bacoor, sumusuporta kay Gibo kaya confident na talaga kami sa pagka-panalo niya,” (The two towns of Dasmarinas and Bacoor are also for Gibo, which is why we are confident of his victory),” said Poblete. “Lahat kami naniniwala na nasa kanya ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas( We all believe that the country’s hope rests on Gibo).”
General Trias Mayor Jon-jon Ferrer had agreed with this assessment of Gibo’s character and qualifications. “[The people here] are pro-Gibo because he has the best qualities of the other presidentiables: he is incorruptible and he’s hardworking, yet he keeps a low profile,” he told reporters during the General Trias rally.
“Most of all, the people believe that he can unite the country, and the clashing politicians,” Ferrer said. “Gibo represents the new face of politics, the politics of performance; politics which focuses on important issues concerning the country.”
Ferrer expressed confidence that the Harvard graduate and 1989 bar topnotcher will win in his 110,000 vote-rich municipality, saying that the huge turn out of people from all 33 barangays in General Trias is already an indication of Gibo’s victory here.
The outpouring of support during the rally in General Trias equalled the warm reception given to Gibo by Caviteños when the former defense secretary combed the streets of reclamation areas in Silang and Dasmariñas, pressing the flesh and waving to green-clad supporters that lined the streets..
Thousands of locals took to the streets, most were running after the vehicle carrying the presidential bet to get a glimpse of him, and to scream their support for him. The astonishing response from the Caviteños prompted Gibo to get off his vehicle to personally meet as as many residents as he could.
“Karangalan para sa akin ang makilala ang mga tao ng Cavite [It’s an honor to meet the people of Cavite],” he said. “Susuklian ko ito ng magagandang proyekto at tapat na serbisyo.”
Noynoy Aquino Update 4/19/2010
LP ASKS SC TO NULLIFY COMELEC RULING ON NP-NPC MERGER
SEEKS TRO ON COMELEC’S DOMINANT MINORITY PARTY DEBATES
At the same time, the LP urged the High Court to stop the Comelec from implementing its decision in its deliberation on who should be the dominant minority party in the May 10 national and local elections.
LP lawyers filed a 53-page Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Urgent Application for Temporary Restraining Order status quo ante and/or writ of preliminary injunction before the Supreme Court in Baguio City.
The LP reiterated the NP-NPC alliance was a bogus coalition formed solely to rob from the Liberal Party the recognition as the Dominant Minority Party, which it held during the 2007 senatorial elections.
Quoting from the dissenting opinion of Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the LP insisted that the NP-NPC merger was a “sham, highly dubious and shameless.”
It pointed out anew that even NPC chairman Faustino Dy Jr., who signed the resolution for the NP-NPC alliance on behalf of the NPC, had admitted under oath before the Comelec that, despite being required under the Constitution and By-Laws of the NPC, the resolution on the coalition with NP was neither approved nor ratified by the NPC National Convention, the party’s highest policy-making body.
It noted that Dy had also admitted before the poll body that he did not consult NPC members whom he knew or believed would not agree to the merger. Also, it argued that the NP and the NPC have candidates running against each other for national and local positions in various areas during the May elections.
It also added that, “the absurdity of the purported coalition is epitomized by the supposed NP-NPC Coalition resolution, which allegedly adopted, as the Coalition’s senatorial candidate, the entire senatorial slate of the NP, to the exclusion of NPC senatorial candidates Tito Sotto and Ompong Plaza.”
“The NP-NPC was never formally, and much less, genuinely organized by the NPC. It was but a mere piece of paper purposely designed to emasculate the chances of other registered political parties who rely on their own truthful qualifications in their application for the dominant minority party status,” it argued.
LP lawyers lamented that despite glaring evidence that the coalition was unauthorized, “the Comelec, nonetheless, in grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess in jurisdiction, granted the petition for registration of the NP-NPC Coalition ratiocinating that since no written opposition was filed by any NPC member to the supposed coalition, the NPC membership has purportedly accepted the same.”
On top of this, they alleged the Comelec, in grave and capricious exercise of discretion, took cognizance of the illegal NP-NPC merger “even if its Rules of Procedure and the explicit ruling of (the SC) require that the petition should have first been heard by a division of the Commission.”
“The Comelec disregarded its own rules and established jurisprudence in taking cognizance of the petition for registration at the first instance,” they said, adding: “To top it all, and in grave abuse of its discretion, the Comelec en banc acted on the petition for registration even if it was filed way beyond the deadline it had already set for the registration of political parties and even if there was no compelling reason for the Comelec to suspend its rules and/or adopt a liberal construction of its rules.”
“The fatal deficiencies and/or infirmities accompanying the filing of the petition for registration of the purported NP-NPC Coalition would have warranted its outright dismissal by the Comelec. Yet, instead of relegating the petition to the dustbin of history for being an outright mockery of our election laws, the majority of the Comelec Commissioner had even given life to it by granting the petition and causing the registration of the purported NP-NPC Coalition,” the LP argued.
The LP insisted it was necessary for the SC to step into the case, noting the proximity of the May 10 elections and a scheduled deliberation by the Comelec en banc on the applications for recognition as the Dominant Minority Party. “Unless a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary prohibitory injunction is issued, (Comelec) will proceed, which clearly constitute a violation of (the LP’s) right to party representation in the Commission on Appointments, perpetrate and perpetuate a brazen constitutional breach and will result in irreparable damage and injury to petitioners.”
It stressed: “A coalition of political parties must not be just a piece of paper that can be registered whimsically, most especially when such purported coalition is not only dubious in its existence but is also severely tainted with bad faith and is intended to have undue advantage against those who are faithfully complying with the law.”
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Nicanor Perlas Update 4/18/2010
'Poll automation a black hole'
Nick Perlas answers question from STAR editors at the Philippine STAR office yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO
MANILA, Philippines - Presidential candidate Nick Perlas expressed serious concern over the seeming “last minute” changes being done by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on paraphernalia for next month’s polls, saying the automated system is proving to be the “black hole” of the elections.
Perlas told The STAR editors and reporters during a roundtable discussion yesterday that the Comelec slip-ups tended to show that “we are moving towards a failure of elections.”
Perlas stressed that the changes being made by the Comelec were not assuring the electorate of clean and orderly polls.
The Comelec, for its part, said yesterday that preparations for the automated polls are on track.
“We are on track. There may be some delays but I am very confident that everything will be in place in time for the election,” Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said yesterday.
Perlas said that he and his followers were already considering a failure of elections scenario.
“The system is so complex, apparently, there are many mistakes made already,” Perlas said.
“There are so many changes. The things coming out in the papers, it doesn’t give you the kind of confidence that automated elections will give us clean and honest elections,” Perlas noted.
“There are obviously loopholes. I’m not sure if they will be ready for the elections,” Perlas said.
He said they were already discussing possible actions to take if there will be failure of elections, and as election day draws nearer he will be more actively discussing possible actions with his supporters.
“Such a scenario could lead us to be plunged into chaos that is potentially violent,” Perlas said.
He said that while his team was now focused on his campaign, they were scheduling nationwide consultations to discuss a failure of elections scenario.
“Shortly before the elections, we’ll also start to hold nationwide consultations on how they want us to respond in case there will be failure of elections,” Perlas said.
36 million ballots printed – Comelec
Melo said some 36 million ballots have already been printed and they are confident that all 50.7 million ballots will be printed by April 25 so that the Comelec could start delivering them to the hub and sub-hub warehouses across the country.
The government-run National Printing Office is able to print some 900,000 ballots every day since the fifth printer began running last April 5.
“The ballots will be kept there but four to five days before election day, they should have already been delivered to the (city and municipal) Treasurer’s Office,” he said.
Melo also maintained the agency is expecting lesser poll-related violence this year, especially since the Comelec had imposed a total gun ban. “Compared to the previous election, the incidence of violence is lesser. I hope this will be the situation until the election.”
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento noted the training of some 300,000 teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors had been completed while the training for the Board of Canvassers (BOC) and the voter’s education is still ongoing.
BOC is composed of an election officer who acts as chair, city or municipal treasurer and district school supervisor.
Records showed that of the 77,000 ballot boxes ordered by the Comelec from Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), 33,432 units are already in the country. Another 12,000 ballot boxes are expected to arrive on April 12.
All of the 82,200 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines have already been delivered by the joint venture and 43,247 of them have already been configured as of April 1.
Everyday, some 2,000 PCOS machines are being configured at the Smartmatic-TIM warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna.
So far, 51,799 and 6,548 PCOS technicians and supervisors, respectively, have already been trained.
Asked about the pronouncements of various electoral reform groups that the Comelec is ill-prepared for the election, Melo had reiterated that it’s about time for the country to automate its polls.
“Let us put our shoulders behind this. The Comelec is doing its best,” Melo added.
PPCRV seeks review contract for indelible ink
Meanwhile, a Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) member sought yesterday a review of the Comelec contract for the indelible ink that will be used by voters on election day.
In an interview, PPCRV member Arwin Serrano said that Comelec’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) had started the bidding process for the contract amounting to some P77 million.
“There were two bidders. One was disqualified while the other, which is ‘Texas’, passed (the eligibility and financial screenings). Last March 16 or 17, BAC had tested the indelible ink of ‘Texas’ but it failed,” he noted.
Serrano claimed that he was eventually informed that BAC had given “Texas” another chance to increase the silver nitrate content of its product so a “re-testing” was conducted.
“I was told that during the second test, the indelible ink passed. But for me, there should be no second chance. If you fail once, that’s it. We should be strict on this because this ink is very important for our election,” he added.
Serrano maintained that BAC should have instead conducted a re-bidding of the contract.
Asked about this, Comelec Commissioner Sarmiento admitted that it was the full commission who gave the “marching order” to the BAC to re-test after Texas had adjusted its indelible ink.
Sarmiento could not immediately ascertain at what level the bidding is now but he advised Serrano to formalize his proposal so that the Comelec could address it properly.
Indelible ink is applied usually on the index fingers of voters after casting their votes to prevent them from voting again.
OTC files motion for reconsideration with Comelec
Meanwhile, OTC Paper Supply yesterday asked the Comelec to reconsider its decision to cancel the company’s contract to supply some P700-million worth of ballot secrecy folders.
In a motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec, OTC Paper Supply proprietor Willy Young said that Comelec Resolution 8814 must be reviewed since “it effectively terminated an existing contract of the Commission without the observance of the process, both procedural and substantive, required by law.”
Young noted that a “valid contract exists” between the OTC and the Comelec for the supply of 1.8 million secrecy folders.
The motion showed that OTC received the notice of award from the Comelec last March 16 and it submitted a performance bond to the poll body nine days later.
Under Section 37 of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act, OTC has 10 days from receipt of notice within which to formally enter into contract with the Comelec.
“And if no action on the contract is taken by the head of the commission within the aforesaid period, the contract shall be deemed approved,” he added.
Young said that “none of the grounds for termination of a procurement contract enumerated in the law… are present in the instant case.”
“Neither is there a ground to terminate the subject contract for convenience. No condition exists that makes the project implementation economically, financially or technically impractical and/or unnecessary such as fortuitous events or change in the law and national government policies,” he added.
Last April 5, the Comelec issued Resolution 8814 scrapping the contract after finding out that the price of the OTC folder was exorbitant at P380 per piece.
The Comelec just decided to let voters use ordinary folders.
Comelec-Law Department director Ferdinand Rafanan said that he was instructed by Melo “to leave no stone unturned” in investigating the irregular contract.
Rafanan said BAC chair Maria Lea Alarkon, vice chairman Allen Francis Abaya and members Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, Martin Niedo and Antonio Santella would still be held liable even if they reportedly were planning to resign. With Sheila Crisostomo
Nick Perlas answers question from STAR editors at the Philippine STAR office yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO
MANILA, Philippines - Presidential candidate Nick Perlas expressed serious concern over the seeming “last minute” changes being done by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on paraphernalia for next month’s polls, saying the automated system is proving to be the “black hole” of the elections.
Perlas told The STAR editors and reporters during a roundtable discussion yesterday that the Comelec slip-ups tended to show that “we are moving towards a failure of elections.”
Perlas stressed that the changes being made by the Comelec were not assuring the electorate of clean and orderly polls.
The Comelec, for its part, said yesterday that preparations for the automated polls are on track.
“We are on track. There may be some delays but I am very confident that everything will be in place in time for the election,” Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said yesterday.
Perlas said that he and his followers were already considering a failure of elections scenario.
“The system is so complex, apparently, there are many mistakes made already,” Perlas said.
“There are so many changes. The things coming out in the papers, it doesn’t give you the kind of confidence that automated elections will give us clean and honest elections,” Perlas noted.
“There are obviously loopholes. I’m not sure if they will be ready for the elections,” Perlas said.
He said they were already discussing possible actions to take if there will be failure of elections, and as election day draws nearer he will be more actively discussing possible actions with his supporters.
“Such a scenario could lead us to be plunged into chaos that is potentially violent,” Perlas said.
He said that while his team was now focused on his campaign, they were scheduling nationwide consultations to discuss a failure of elections scenario.
“Shortly before the elections, we’ll also start to hold nationwide consultations on how they want us to respond in case there will be failure of elections,” Perlas said.
36 million ballots printed – Comelec
Melo said some 36 million ballots have already been printed and they are confident that all 50.7 million ballots will be printed by April 25 so that the Comelec could start delivering them to the hub and sub-hub warehouses across the country.
The government-run National Printing Office is able to print some 900,000 ballots every day since the fifth printer began running last April 5.
“The ballots will be kept there but four to five days before election day, they should have already been delivered to the (city and municipal) Treasurer’s Office,” he said.
Melo also maintained the agency is expecting lesser poll-related violence this year, especially since the Comelec had imposed a total gun ban. “Compared to the previous election, the incidence of violence is lesser. I hope this will be the situation until the election.”
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento noted the training of some 300,000 teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors had been completed while the training for the Board of Canvassers (BOC) and the voter’s education is still ongoing.
BOC is composed of an election officer who acts as chair, city or municipal treasurer and district school supervisor.
Records showed that of the 77,000 ballot boxes ordered by the Comelec from Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), 33,432 units are already in the country. Another 12,000 ballot boxes are expected to arrive on April 12.
All of the 82,200 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines have already been delivered by the joint venture and 43,247 of them have already been configured as of April 1.
Everyday, some 2,000 PCOS machines are being configured at the Smartmatic-TIM warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna.
So far, 51,799 and 6,548 PCOS technicians and supervisors, respectively, have already been trained.
Asked about the pronouncements of various electoral reform groups that the Comelec is ill-prepared for the election, Melo had reiterated that it’s about time for the country to automate its polls.
“Let us put our shoulders behind this. The Comelec is doing its best,” Melo added.
PPCRV seeks review contract for indelible ink
Meanwhile, a Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) member sought yesterday a review of the Comelec contract for the indelible ink that will be used by voters on election day.
In an interview, PPCRV member Arwin Serrano said that Comelec’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) had started the bidding process for the contract amounting to some P77 million.
“There were two bidders. One was disqualified while the other, which is ‘Texas’, passed (the eligibility and financial screenings). Last March 16 or 17, BAC had tested the indelible ink of ‘Texas’ but it failed,” he noted.
Serrano claimed that he was eventually informed that BAC had given “Texas” another chance to increase the silver nitrate content of its product so a “re-testing” was conducted.
“I was told that during the second test, the indelible ink passed. But for me, there should be no second chance. If you fail once, that’s it. We should be strict on this because this ink is very important for our election,” he added.
Serrano maintained that BAC should have instead conducted a re-bidding of the contract.
Asked about this, Comelec Commissioner Sarmiento admitted that it was the full commission who gave the “marching order” to the BAC to re-test after Texas had adjusted its indelible ink.
Sarmiento could not immediately ascertain at what level the bidding is now but he advised Serrano to formalize his proposal so that the Comelec could address it properly.
Indelible ink is applied usually on the index fingers of voters after casting their votes to prevent them from voting again.
OTC files motion for reconsideration with Comelec
Meanwhile, OTC Paper Supply yesterday asked the Comelec to reconsider its decision to cancel the company’s contract to supply some P700-million worth of ballot secrecy folders.
In a motion for reconsideration filed with the Comelec, OTC Paper Supply proprietor Willy Young said that Comelec Resolution 8814 must be reviewed since “it effectively terminated an existing contract of the Commission without the observance of the process, both procedural and substantive, required by law.”
Young noted that a “valid contract exists” between the OTC and the Comelec for the supply of 1.8 million secrecy folders.
The motion showed that OTC received the notice of award from the Comelec last March 16 and it submitted a performance bond to the poll body nine days later.
Under Section 37 of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act, OTC has 10 days from receipt of notice within which to formally enter into contract with the Comelec.
“And if no action on the contract is taken by the head of the commission within the aforesaid period, the contract shall be deemed approved,” he added.
Young said that “none of the grounds for termination of a procurement contract enumerated in the law… are present in the instant case.”
“Neither is there a ground to terminate the subject contract for convenience. No condition exists that makes the project implementation economically, financially or technically impractical and/or unnecessary such as fortuitous events or change in the law and national government policies,” he added.
Last April 5, the Comelec issued Resolution 8814 scrapping the contract after finding out that the price of the OTC folder was exorbitant at P380 per piece.
The Comelec just decided to let voters use ordinary folders.
Comelec-Law Department director Ferdinand Rafanan said that he was instructed by Melo “to leave no stone unturned” in investigating the irregular contract.
Rafanan said BAC chair Maria Lea Alarkon, vice chairman Allen Francis Abaya and members Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, Martin Niedo and Antonio Santella would still be held liable even if they reportedly were planning to resign. With Sheila Crisostomo
Bayani Fernando Update 4/18/2010
He wants to be the ‘bastonero’
IF (OR WHEN?) HE WINS THE VICE PRESIDENcy, says Bayani Fernando, he will not ask the new president for any Cabinet portfolio, at least not any post with a formal name or function. Instead, he wishes to be appointed “the President’s bastonero (whip),” someone who will go around making sure department heads are meeting their targets, government employees are not slacking off, or thieves in barong or blazers are not raiding the government coffers.
In short, Bayani Fernando wishes to become the most unpopular man in the next administration.
When our group of media women asked him if there was anything he ever regretted in the course of his campaign, Fernando said it was “listening to my advisers.” And what piece of advice did he regret most? “That I smile constantly.”
When we asked who gave him such advice, he pointed to his wife, outgoing Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, who simply smiles back.
“I’ve had my old posters printed and will be hanging them up soon,” he tells us, referring to the posters that came out while he was still chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, showing him sternly looking down from the posts of overhead rails, admonishing motorists and pedestrians. “My new slogan is,” he declared, “Hindi ako nagbibiro. Titino tayo. (I’m not kidding. We’ll shape up.)”
It’s clear Fernando is not just running to snag the No. 2 post of the land (with presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon of the Bagumbayan Party). On his agenda are not just the usual platitudes about good governance, fighting corruption or eradicating poverty. Instead, he wants to create a new Filipino society, one motivated by different values, especially a new work ethic and a commitment to excellence.
IF critics say Fernando wishes to bite off more than he can chew, he can always point to the transformation wrought in Marikina where he served as mayor for three terms and then was succeeded by Marides.
In the 18 years of “Fernando rule,” Marikina, once a small riverside city ruled by the single industry of shoe-making, has grown into a city with a diversified line-up of industries, clean streets even along the market, brightly lit parks and promenades, and an impressive network of social support systems.
But beyond the new infrastructure, the cleanliness, and the renovation of what used to be eyesores, including the once-polluted Marikina River, the transformation of Marikina is most impressive for what experts have dubbed the “social engineering and cultural change” led by the local government leaders.
In a book on the many governance innovations established in the city, Fernando (“BF” to his constituents) is quoted as saying that he “would like to be remembered as a builder of character and not just a builder of infrastructure.” And in the city, he began where it mattered most: in the mayor’s own milieu of City Hall. The bureaucracy was motivated (by carrot and stick) to respond quickly and efficiently to the citizens’ demands, and to deliver basic services as efficiently and completely as possible.
During a visit to Marikina City Hall a few years ago, Mayor Marides pointed to the various glass-walled offices. When asked about the glass walls, she quipped: “For more transparency!”
With office transactions open to public view, with no room for secret hanky-panky, city hall workers couldn’t but do their jobs in the best and fastest way possible.
* * *
BF had a chance to expand the vision he and Marides first made palpable in Marikina when he was appointed chair of the MMDA.
In this post he has been less than a total success, given that Metro Manila’s 13 cities are much larger and more complex than Marikina. But given the many obstacles he faced, including the refusal of some mayors to cooperate or even heed MMDA regulations, BF can be said to have made quite an impact still.
He is quite proud that the numbers—including the savings accrued in fuel and time saved—have borne out the wisdom of his policy of replacing intersections with U-turns, cutting down the time vehicles used to spend idling before traffic lights.
He was most controversial for his policy of “disciplining” sidewalk vendors and informal settlements (which he persists in calling squatter colonies). BF went on walking tours with a demolition team, driving away vendors on sidewalks and even destroying small stalls that intruded into public property.
There was much TV footage of outraged vendors, haranguing authorities for destroying their property, including their wares. BF would later explain that they destroyed the vegetables and fruits on sale because they didn’t want it said that the MMDA was profiting from the produce they confiscated.
* * *
BUT even now, while he is courting the nationwide vote, Fernando refuses to pander to populist sentiment. In fact, he does quite the opposite.
If the Philippines is poor, he declares, it is because we Filipinos wanted it that way. “We have become so poor because we designed a society for the poor,” he says. “Let’s stop designing the country for the poor, let’s work instead to reach the optimum level, pull up the poor and make them work for their sustenance, or else all of us will end up suffering.”
Productivity, he says, is the top problem confronting the country and its people.
In his campaign, BF presents himself as the “engineer of change,” wearing a yellow hard hat which he says is the “symbol of construction workers,” although he has other hats in different colors.
If he does make it as vice president, we can expect BF to wear many hats as well: engineer of social change, advisor to the president, disciplinarian and national scold.
By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:45:00 04/13/2010
Taken from: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100413-264098/He-wants-to-be-the-bastonero
IF (OR WHEN?) HE WINS THE VICE PRESIDENcy, says Bayani Fernando, he will not ask the new president for any Cabinet portfolio, at least not any post with a formal name or function. Instead, he wishes to be appointed “the President’s bastonero (whip),” someone who will go around making sure department heads are meeting their targets, government employees are not slacking off, or thieves in barong or blazers are not raiding the government coffers.
In short, Bayani Fernando wishes to become the most unpopular man in the next administration.
When our group of media women asked him if there was anything he ever regretted in the course of his campaign, Fernando said it was “listening to my advisers.” And what piece of advice did he regret most? “That I smile constantly.”
When we asked who gave him such advice, he pointed to his wife, outgoing Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, who simply smiles back.
“I’ve had my old posters printed and will be hanging them up soon,” he tells us, referring to the posters that came out while he was still chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, showing him sternly looking down from the posts of overhead rails, admonishing motorists and pedestrians. “My new slogan is,” he declared, “Hindi ako nagbibiro. Titino tayo. (I’m not kidding. We’ll shape up.)”
It’s clear Fernando is not just running to snag the No. 2 post of the land (with presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon of the Bagumbayan Party). On his agenda are not just the usual platitudes about good governance, fighting corruption or eradicating poverty. Instead, he wants to create a new Filipino society, one motivated by different values, especially a new work ethic and a commitment to excellence.
IF critics say Fernando wishes to bite off more than he can chew, he can always point to the transformation wrought in Marikina where he served as mayor for three terms and then was succeeded by Marides.
In the 18 years of “Fernando rule,” Marikina, once a small riverside city ruled by the single industry of shoe-making, has grown into a city with a diversified line-up of industries, clean streets even along the market, brightly lit parks and promenades, and an impressive network of social support systems.
But beyond the new infrastructure, the cleanliness, and the renovation of what used to be eyesores, including the once-polluted Marikina River, the transformation of Marikina is most impressive for what experts have dubbed the “social engineering and cultural change” led by the local government leaders.
In a book on the many governance innovations established in the city, Fernando (“BF” to his constituents) is quoted as saying that he “would like to be remembered as a builder of character and not just a builder of infrastructure.” And in the city, he began where it mattered most: in the mayor’s own milieu of City Hall. The bureaucracy was motivated (by carrot and stick) to respond quickly and efficiently to the citizens’ demands, and to deliver basic services as efficiently and completely as possible.
During a visit to Marikina City Hall a few years ago, Mayor Marides pointed to the various glass-walled offices. When asked about the glass walls, she quipped: “For more transparency!”
With office transactions open to public view, with no room for secret hanky-panky, city hall workers couldn’t but do their jobs in the best and fastest way possible.
* * *
BF had a chance to expand the vision he and Marides first made palpable in Marikina when he was appointed chair of the MMDA.
In this post he has been less than a total success, given that Metro Manila’s 13 cities are much larger and more complex than Marikina. But given the many obstacles he faced, including the refusal of some mayors to cooperate or even heed MMDA regulations, BF can be said to have made quite an impact still.
He is quite proud that the numbers—including the savings accrued in fuel and time saved—have borne out the wisdom of his policy of replacing intersections with U-turns, cutting down the time vehicles used to spend idling before traffic lights.
He was most controversial for his policy of “disciplining” sidewalk vendors and informal settlements (which he persists in calling squatter colonies). BF went on walking tours with a demolition team, driving away vendors on sidewalks and even destroying small stalls that intruded into public property.
There was much TV footage of outraged vendors, haranguing authorities for destroying their property, including their wares. BF would later explain that they destroyed the vegetables and fruits on sale because they didn’t want it said that the MMDA was profiting from the produce they confiscated.
* * *
BUT even now, while he is courting the nationwide vote, Fernando refuses to pander to populist sentiment. In fact, he does quite the opposite.
If the Philippines is poor, he declares, it is because we Filipinos wanted it that way. “We have become so poor because we designed a society for the poor,” he says. “Let’s stop designing the country for the poor, let’s work instead to reach the optimum level, pull up the poor and make them work for their sustenance, or else all of us will end up suffering.”
Productivity, he says, is the top problem confronting the country and its people.
In his campaign, BF presents himself as the “engineer of change,” wearing a yellow hard hat which he says is the “symbol of construction workers,” although he has other hats in different colors.
If he does make it as vice president, we can expect BF to wear many hats as well: engineer of social change, advisor to the president, disciplinarian and national scold.
By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:45:00 04/13/2010
Taken from: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100413-264098/He-wants-to-be-the-bastonero
Manny Villar Update 4/18/2010
Villar leads in new independent survey
Aquino widens lead, Villar slips further in new survey
SENATOR BENIGNO SIMEON "Noynoy" C. Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP) continues to dominate the presidential race, widening his lead over rival Senator Manual "Manny" B. Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) barely six weeks before the general elections, the latest survey of independent pollster Pulse Asia, Inc. showed.
Pulse Asia’s "Ulat ng Bayan," conducted last March 21-28 and released yesterday, showed that of 3,000 respondents who were asked to indicate their candidate if elections were held today, 37% said they would vote for the only son of the late former president Corazon C. Aquino.
Mr. Aquino’s score is up by a point from a similar survey done last February. His lead over Mr. Villar widened to 12 points, with the NP bet’s score declining by four points to 25% from 29%.
Pulse Asia noted that Mr. Aquino "enjoys a slight to significant lead over the second running contender in almost all areas and socioeconomic classes.
In Metro Manila, Mr. Aquino has 25-point lead over Mr. Villar with a score of 42%. The LP bet is also higher by seven points in Balance of Luzon with a score of 33%; 11 points in the Visayas, 41%, and 14 points in Mindanao, 37%.
In terms of social class, Mr. Aquino has a 32-point lead over Mr. Villar in the ABC bracket with a rating of 49%, 12 points in class D, 37%; and six points in class E, 34%.
Pulse Asia said Mr. Aquino’s scores in economic class E and Mindanao "are statistically close" to those of Mr. Villar (28%) and former president Joseph "Erap" E. Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (29% for Mindanao).
It also said voter preference for all candidates are statistically unchanged compared to the results of the February survey given the ±2% margin of error.
Meanwhile, Mr. Estrada was third with a flat score of 18%, while that of Gilberto "Gibo" C. Teodoro, Jr. of administration party Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) was also unchanged at 7%.
Switching places were Bagumbayan’s Senator Richard "Dick" J. Gordon and Bangon Pilipinas’ Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" C. Villanueva at 2% apiece, with the former Olongapo City mayor gaining a point from the previous survey.
Following them were independent candidate Jesus Nicanor "Nick" P. Perlas, 0.30%; John Carlos "JC" G. delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, 0.20%; and Senator Ana Consuelo "Jamby" A. S. Madrigal, another independent candidate, 0.10%.
Vetellano "Dodong" S. Acosta of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), who was disqualified by the Commission on Elections for not running a proper campaign, still obtained 0.08%.
The number of undecided as well as those who refused to answer the survey rose to 9% from 6%.
Vice-presidential race
At the vice-presidential race, Senator Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II of the LP also widened his lead over Senator Loren B. Legarda of the Nacionalista Party and NP guest candidate, to 20 points from 16 points with scores of 43% and 23%, respectively, from 43% and 27% in February.
Voter preference for Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, Mr. Estrada’s running mate, went up by four points to 19%.
Scores of other vice-presidential candidates barely moved, with former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani "BF" F. Fernando of Bagumbayan scoring 3% from 4%; Eduardo "Edu" B. Manzano of Lakas-Kampi-CMD unchanged at 2%; Perfecto "Kidlat" R. Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas also unchanged at 1%; Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza of KBL dropping to 0.5% from 1%; and Dominador "Jun" F. Chipeco, Jr. of Ang Kapatiran also unchanged at 0.1%.
Sought for comment, Edwin Lacierda, Mr. Aquino’s spokesman, said Mr. Villar’s rating decline could be attributed to rumors that he is the secret candidate of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"The ‘Villaroyo’ tag is clearly not [good for Mr. Villar’s candidacy]. Maybe people are starting to believe that he is the secret candidate of the administration," he said by phone.
"People are really beginning to realize that Senator Aquino has the character to lead the country, that he can deliver a good government."
For his part, NP senatorial bet Gilbert C. Remulla, who speaks on behalf of Mr. Villar, said: "We recognize that we have a lot of work to do. The black propaganda has affected the ratings. We have come back from the Holy Week break and we have recalibrated [our campaign strategies]. We will claim victor on May 10."
A total of 50.7 million registered voters will troop to polling precincts on May 10 to choose the country’s next set of national and local leaders.
SENATOR BENIGNO SIMEON "Noynoy" C. Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP) continues to dominate the presidential race, widening his lead over rival Senator Manual "Manny" B. Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) barely six weeks before the general elections, the latest survey of independent pollster Pulse Asia, Inc. showed.
Pulse Asia’s "Ulat ng Bayan," conducted last March 21-28 and released yesterday, showed that of 3,000 respondents who were asked to indicate their candidate if elections were held today, 37% said they would vote for the only son of the late former president Corazon C. Aquino.
Mr. Aquino’s score is up by a point from a similar survey done last February. His lead over Mr. Villar widened to 12 points, with the NP bet’s score declining by four points to 25% from 29%.
Pulse Asia noted that Mr. Aquino "enjoys a slight to significant lead over the second running contender in almost all areas and socioeconomic classes.
In Metro Manila, Mr. Aquino has 25-point lead over Mr. Villar with a score of 42%. The LP bet is also higher by seven points in Balance of Luzon with a score of 33%; 11 points in the Visayas, 41%, and 14 points in Mindanao, 37%.
In terms of social class, Mr. Aquino has a 32-point lead over Mr. Villar in the ABC bracket with a rating of 49%, 12 points in class D, 37%; and six points in class E, 34%.
Pulse Asia said Mr. Aquino’s scores in economic class E and Mindanao "are statistically close" to those of Mr. Villar (28%) and former president Joseph "Erap" E. Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (29% for Mindanao).
It also said voter preference for all candidates are statistically unchanged compared to the results of the February survey given the ±2% margin of error.
Meanwhile, Mr. Estrada was third with a flat score of 18%, while that of Gilberto "Gibo" C. Teodoro, Jr. of administration party Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) was also unchanged at 7%.
Switching places were Bagumbayan’s Senator Richard "Dick" J. Gordon and Bangon Pilipinas’ Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" C. Villanueva at 2% apiece, with the former Olongapo City mayor gaining a point from the previous survey.
Following them were independent candidate Jesus Nicanor "Nick" P. Perlas, 0.30%; John Carlos "JC" G. delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, 0.20%; and Senator Ana Consuelo "Jamby" A. S. Madrigal, another independent candidate, 0.10%.
Vetellano "Dodong" S. Acosta of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), who was disqualified by the Commission on Elections for not running a proper campaign, still obtained 0.08%.
The number of undecided as well as those who refused to answer the survey rose to 9% from 6%.
Vice-presidential race
At the vice-presidential race, Senator Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II of the LP also widened his lead over Senator Loren B. Legarda of the Nacionalista Party and NP guest candidate, to 20 points from 16 points with scores of 43% and 23%, respectively, from 43% and 27% in February.
Voter preference for Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, Mr. Estrada’s running mate, went up by four points to 19%.
Scores of other vice-presidential candidates barely moved, with former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani "BF" F. Fernando of Bagumbayan scoring 3% from 4%; Eduardo "Edu" B. Manzano of Lakas-Kampi-CMD unchanged at 2%; Perfecto "Kidlat" R. Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas also unchanged at 1%; Jose "Jay" Y. Sonza of KBL dropping to 0.5% from 1%; and Dominador "Jun" F. Chipeco, Jr. of Ang Kapatiran also unchanged at 0.1%.
Sought for comment, Edwin Lacierda, Mr. Aquino’s spokesman, said Mr. Villar’s rating decline could be attributed to rumors that he is the secret candidate of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"The ‘Villaroyo’ tag is clearly not [good for Mr. Villar’s candidacy]. Maybe people are starting to believe that he is the secret candidate of the administration," he said by phone.
"People are really beginning to realize that Senator Aquino has the character to lead the country, that he can deliver a good government."
For his part, NP senatorial bet Gilbert C. Remulla, who speaks on behalf of Mr. Villar, said: "We recognize that we have a lot of work to do. The black propaganda has affected the ratings. We have come back from the Holy Week break and we have recalibrated [our campaign strategies]. We will claim victor on May 10."
A total of 50.7 million registered voters will troop to polling precincts on May 10 to choose the country’s next set of national and local leaders.
JC De los Reyes Update 4/18/2010
De los Reyes boycotts Quiboloy forum
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:52:00 03/10/2010
Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Cults & sects, Belief (Faith)
MANILA, Philippines—Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC de los Reyes yesterday said he decided to boycott the forum organized by The Kingdom of Jesus Christ group because of his party’s strict adherence to “principled politics.”
“Some presidential candidates went there not because they want Pastor Quiboloy to support their causes or vice versa, but only to get personal endorsements from him,” De los Reyes said in a phone interview from Davao City.
“If it’s an event where presidential candidates would be soliciting votes, then I do not want to go.”
De los Reyes and several Kapatiran candidates flew to Davao to begin a weeklong campaign sortie in Mindanao, which would take them to the cities of Davao, Panabo, Valencia, Marawi, Iligan, Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro, as well as various towns in Davao del Norte, Bukidnon and the Lanao and Misamis provinces.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:52:00 03/10/2010
Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Cults & sects, Belief (Faith)
MANILA, Philippines—Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC de los Reyes yesterday said he decided to boycott the forum organized by The Kingdom of Jesus Christ group because of his party’s strict adherence to “principled politics.”
“Some presidential candidates went there not because they want Pastor Quiboloy to support their causes or vice versa, but only to get personal endorsements from him,” De los Reyes said in a phone interview from Davao City.
“If it’s an event where presidential candidates would be soliciting votes, then I do not want to go.”
De los Reyes and several Kapatiran candidates flew to Davao to begin a weeklong campaign sortie in Mindanao, which would take them to the cities of Davao, Panabo, Valencia, Marawi, Iligan, Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro, as well as various towns in Davao del Norte, Bukidnon and the Lanao and Misamis provinces.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Gibo Teodoro Update 4/18/2010
MORE ILOILO LEADERS BACK GIBO
ILOILO CITY—In a show of unflinching support for Lakas-KAMPI-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro, more and more local political stalwarts have vowed to turn Iloilo into “Gibo country.”
Raul Gonzales, Sr. a former justice secretary who is now running for mayor, said members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the city are solidly behind Gibo’s bid to lead the country in the next six years.
“Iloilo is now also a “Gibo Country,” said Gonzales, also the party chairman in the city, which has some 240,000 voters.
His son, Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzales, Jr. who is seeking a last term, assured Gibo they will campaign hard for him in the locality to ensure he’ll lord over the votes in this city among the presidential contenders.
“Gibo will be the next president of our country. He’s the most prepared candidate to run the Philippines,” Rep. Gonzales said.
Prior to the rally at the Freedom Grandstand that drew a huge crowd of 20,000, Gibo met with Gonzales, Sr., House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor and Rep. Jannette Garin (1st district, Iloilo province) at the Hotel del Rio here.
Noynoy Aquino Update 4/18/2010
Magsaysay endorse Team AQUINO-ROXAS
Former Senator Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay announced today he and his family were supporting the candidacy of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas.
In a press conference, Magsaysay, only son and namesake of a much-admired and beloved Filipino president, said the country needed a new type of political leadership to give true reforms a chance to start.
“It will take many years and hard decisions to reverse the culture of corruption in public service. True reforms must be continuing. Honesty and integrity must exist in that new leadership,” Magsaysay said in a formal statement (full text attached).
The former senator said what the Philippines needed at this time were leaders who were “tough, transparent, and true. Tough enough to make hard decisions. Transparent enough to open up cans of worms and expose the rot in public finances and transactions. True enough to commit to initiating and instituting reforms as deeply, as widely and as long as it takes to rid the bureaucracy of the parasites that weaken our moral fabric.”
Magsaysay said the Aquino-Roxas team was decent, strong and God-fearing. He expressed his conviction that both candidates would live up to the trust and confidence the Filipino people would bestow on them by voting them into office.
The former senator said he believed the Noy-Mar ticket would deliver on their promise to prosecute and bring to justice, firmly and without any reservations, corrupt elements in government within the first 100 days of their administration.
“I believe they will do it. I know they (Aquino and Roxas) and their group of principled politicians will pursue this objective as no other candidate will,” Magsaysay said.
He said they had taken a strong stand, as they shared the people’s deep yearning for justice and unity.
“We must be united and stand with them in this perilous struggle to initiate the rebirth of the country, to build a just society that will give all Filipinos pride and dignity as respected members of the global community having cleansed themselves once again of the stigma of corruption, just like we did in 1986,” Magsaysay said.
He reminded Filipinos that the historic events on EDSA in 1986 that became known throughout the world as the People Power Revolution made the Philippines a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all peoples trying to free themselves from the shackles of tyranny, oppression and corruption.
We continue to suffer from bad government. Worse, our people have been silenced by apathy, fear and intimidation, forced to endure the most ineffective, deliberately secretive, and maliciously unjust political leadership since the martial law years.
For the families of the 57 Filipinos who were mercilessly massacred allegedly by [those] in power to prevent them from running for office in Mindanao: The truth shall set you free.
For the families of those assassinated–Marlene Esperat, Gumersindo Lasam, Teofilo Mojica–over the misuse of farmers’ fund in the Department of Agriculture that continue to haunt the country: The truth shall set you free. Two Senate committees–in the 2006 13th Congress and the 2009 14th Congress—that investigated the fertilizer fund scam arrived at the same conclusion based on their reports: There was sufficient evidence to charge with plunder certain officials of the DA. Both reports were signed and approved by an overwhelming majority of the senators. They have since been ignored, archived and forgotten! Social justice has lost out to political expediency.
For all these victims of injustice, the sun may finally rise after May 10.
Judgment Time
The famed broadcaster Ed Morrow once said, “A nation of sheep begets a government of wolves!”
Knowing that the Filipino prefers to mind his own business if he has a choice, some public officials use this as an opportunity to steal government funds. Already limited financial resources are strained even further. They overprice equipment and supplies, pursue ghost projects, and blatantly mismanage operations.
The scams will never stop until we get together,unite under one honest and tough leadership and kick out those crocodiles that have made government a rich feeding ground.
We need a new type of leaders to initiate true reforms. It will take many years and hard decisions to reverse the culture of corruption in public service. True reforms must be continuing. Honesty and integrity must exist in that new leadership.
My Choice – tough, transparent, true
Noynoy and Mar have taken a strong stand, as they share the people’s deep yearning for justice and unity.
We must be united and stand with them in this perilous struggle to initiate the rebirth of the country, to build a just society that will give all Filipinos pride and dignity as respected members of the global community having cleansed themselves once again of the stigma of corruption, just as they did after the historic events of 1986 that made the Philippines a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all peoples trying to free themselves from the shackles of tyranny and oppression.
Former Senator Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay announced today he and his family were supporting the candidacy of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas.
In a press conference, Magsaysay, only son and namesake of a much-admired and beloved Filipino president, said the country needed a new type of political leadership to give true reforms a chance to start.
“It will take many years and hard decisions to reverse the culture of corruption in public service. True reforms must be continuing. Honesty and integrity must exist in that new leadership,” Magsaysay said in a formal statement (full text attached).
The former senator said what the Philippines needed at this time were leaders who were “tough, transparent, and true. Tough enough to make hard decisions. Transparent enough to open up cans of worms and expose the rot in public finances and transactions. True enough to commit to initiating and instituting reforms as deeply, as widely and as long as it takes to rid the bureaucracy of the parasites that weaken our moral fabric.”
Magsaysay said the Aquino-Roxas team was decent, strong and God-fearing. He expressed his conviction that both candidates would live up to the trust and confidence the Filipino people would bestow on them by voting them into office.
The former senator said he believed the Noy-Mar ticket would deliver on their promise to prosecute and bring to justice, firmly and without any reservations, corrupt elements in government within the first 100 days of their administration.
“I believe they will do it. I know they (Aquino and Roxas) and their group of principled politicians will pursue this objective as no other candidate will,” Magsaysay said.
He said they had taken a strong stand, as they shared the people’s deep yearning for justice and unity.
“We must be united and stand with them in this perilous struggle to initiate the rebirth of the country, to build a just society that will give all Filipinos pride and dignity as respected members of the global community having cleansed themselves once again of the stigma of corruption, just like we did in 1986,” Magsaysay said.
He reminded Filipinos that the historic events on EDSA in 1986 that became known throughout the world as the People Power Revolution made the Philippines a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all peoples trying to free themselves from the shackles of tyranny, oppression and corruption.
—
RAMON MAGSAYSAY, JR. BACKS AQUINO-ROXAS TICKET
My family and I have decided to support Senators Benigno ”Noynoy” Aquino and Mar Roxas, Liberal Party candidates for president and vice president, respectively in the May 10 elections.It is my conviction that we need leaders that are honest and trustworthy at a time when our country is in crisis. And these two men fit the profile almost perfectly.
A Country in CrisisWe continue to suffer from bad government. Worse, our people have been silenced by apathy, fear and intimidation, forced to endure the most ineffective, deliberately secretive, and maliciously unjust political leadership since the martial law years.
The truth shall set us free. “Kung may katotohanan, susunod ang katarungan. At kung may katarungan, magkakaroon ng katahimikan.” So said Archbishop Oscar Cruz about a couple of years ago when he was still head of the Catholic diocese in the Pangasinan-Ilocos region.The archbishop made the exhortation in relation to the case of Jun Lozada, whose whole family remains under the protection of the ASSOCIATION OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS IN THE PHILIPPINES (AMRSP) community under Sister Mary John Mananzan and the De la Salle Brothers in Greenhills. Lozada’s predicament remains the most dramatic manifestation of how this administration hounds and threatens those who expose government anomalies hoping to correct such excesses. To Jun, his wife, and five children, I say: The truth shall set you free.
For the families of the 57 Filipinos who were mercilessly massacred allegedly by [those] in power to prevent them from running for office in Mindanao: The truth shall set you free.
For the families of those assassinated–Marlene Esperat, Gumersindo Lasam, Teofilo Mojica–over the misuse of farmers’ fund in the Department of Agriculture that continue to haunt the country: The truth shall set you free. Two Senate committees–in the 2006 13th Congress and the 2009 14th Congress—that investigated the fertilizer fund scam arrived at the same conclusion based on their reports: There was sufficient evidence to charge with plunder certain officials of the DA. Both reports were signed and approved by an overwhelming majority of the senators. They have since been ignored, archived and forgotten! Social justice has lost out to political expediency.
For all these victims of injustice, the sun may finally rise after May 10.
Judgment Time
The famed broadcaster Ed Morrow once said, “A nation of sheep begets a government of wolves!”
Knowing that the Filipino prefers to mind his own business if he has a choice, some public officials use this as an opportunity to steal government funds. Already limited financial resources are strained even further. They overprice equipment and supplies, pursue ghost projects, and blatantly mismanage operations.
The scams will never stop until we get together,unite under one honest and tough leadership and kick out those crocodiles that have made government a rich feeding ground.
We need a new type of leaders to initiate true reforms. It will take many years and hard decisions to reverse the culture of corruption in public service. True reforms must be continuing. Honesty and integrity must exist in that new leadership.
My Choice – tough, transparent, true
We need leaders who are tough, transparent, and true. Tough enough to make hard decisions. Transparent enough to open up cans of worms and expose the rot in public finances and transactions. True enough to commit to initiating and instituting reforms as deeply, as widely and as long as it takes to rid the bureaucracy of the parasites that weaken our moral fabric.
Senators Benigno C. Aquino and Manuel A. Roxas. Noynoy and Mar makes a team that is decent, strong and God-fearing. Both will do justice to the trust and confidence the Filipino people will bestow on them by electing them into office.Both firmly and without any reservations vow to go after the corrupt and bring them to justice within the first 100 days of their administration. I believe they will do it. I know they and their group of principled politicians will pursue this objective as no other candidate will.
Noynoy and Mar have taken a strong stand, as they share the people’s deep yearning for justice and unity.
We must be united and stand with them in this perilous struggle to initiate the rebirth of the country, to build a just society that will give all Filipinos pride and dignity as respected members of the global community having cleansed themselves once again of the stigma of corruption, just as they did after the historic events of 1986 that made the Philippines a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all peoples trying to free themselves from the shackles of tyranny and oppression.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Perlas calls for three-month postponement of automated elections
Independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas and the Partido ng Marangal na Sambayanan (PANGMASA) called for a postponement of the national elections by three months during the presidential forum of Listen Mindanao at the Holy Cross University in Davao City this morning.
Perlas who raised the strong possibility of an 'electronic Garci' two months ago, said that there is "no way of determining the real winners of the automated election within 48 hours as the Comelec announced."
"The way things are being handled by the Comelec, the automated system will be the black hole of the election. Pushing through with the May 10 elections will just further plunge the country into chaos that is potentially violent," he said.
Perlas cited Comelec’s admission that an estimated 30 percent of the machines may fail to proceed, resulting in a manual count.
He also mentioned that the Comelec admitted in a forum that the winners will not be known within 48 hours due to the sheer number of candidates.
Perlas who raised the strong possibility of an 'electronic Garci' two months ago, said that there is "no way of determining the real winners of the automated election within 48 hours as the Comelec announced."
"The way things are being handled by the Comelec, the automated system will be the black hole of the election. Pushing through with the May 10 elections will just further plunge the country into chaos that is potentially violent," he said.
Perlas cited Comelec’s admission that an estimated 30 percent of the machines may fail to proceed, resulting in a manual count.
He also mentioned that the Comelec admitted in a forum that the winners will not be known within 48 hours due to the sheer number of candidates.
2010 Automated Election
The Commission on Elections started its efforts at modernizing or automating the electoral process way back in 1992, immediately after the first Synchronized National and Local Elections (NLE). With the first pilot testing of an automated election system using the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) technology in the 1996 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Elections, to the partial implementation in the ARMM provinces of the same automated system in the 1998 National and Local Elections, to the halted nationwide implementation of a centralized automated counting system for the 2004 NLE, and to the pilot test of a fully automated election system in the 2008 ARMM Elections, the COMELEC continues to fulfill its mandate of conducting elections – be it manual or automated.
For the coming 2010 elections, the COMELEC is set to conduct the country’s first nationwide fully automated elections – from counting of votes to transmission and canvassing of election results. Please browse through our Election Automation web pages to find out more about the modernization or automation of the Philippine electoral process.
For the coming 2010 elections, the COMELEC is set to conduct the country’s first nationwide fully automated elections – from counting of votes to transmission and canvassing of election results. Please browse through our Election Automation web pages to find out more about the modernization or automation of the Philippine electoral process.
Sexbomb - Bilog na Hugis Itlog
Click here to watch the video..
Dahil sa MTV ng Sexbomb: Kaalaman sa automated polls inaasahang tataas
MANILA – Kumpiyansa ang ilang mambabatas na tataas ang kaalaman ng mga Pilipino sa kauna-unahang automated elections sa bansa sa tulong ng ipinalabas na MTV ng Sexbomb dancers tungkol sa modernong paraanng pagboto.
Pinuri nina Reps. Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora) at Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna), ang GMA Network na gumawa ng voters educational video ng SexBomb dancers na nagtuturo sa paraan ng pagboto at pagpili ng kandidato sa darating na eleksiyon.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Votebook: Jamby Madrigal
Jamby Madrigal
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party
Genuine Opposition
Hometown
Manila
Short Description
Is a politician in the Philippines. She was elected during the 2004 general elections and is currently serving as a Senator .
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Votebook: Nicanor Perlas
Nicanor Perlas
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party
Independent
Hometown
Iloilo
Short Description
Global Consultant on Integral Sustainable Development
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Votebook: Sen. Richard Gordon
Richard Gordon
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party
BAGUMBAYAN
Hometown
Olongapo City
Short Description
Dick Gordon is a proven transformational leader, the real action-man; making possible the seemingly impossible, and simply best known for overcoming great odds.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Votebook: Manny Villar
Manny Villar
Short Description
Political Party
NP
Hometown
Hometown
Moriones, Tondo, Manila
Short Description
The public life of Manny Villar straddles both the worlds of business and politics. He is one of the few who managed to excel in both.
Vote Book: JC de los Reyes
JC de los Reyes
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party
Ang Kapatiran Party
Hometown
Olongapo City
Short Description
His passion and vision is to unceasingly work to fight and defeat massive, enslaving poverty, a mission to be accomplished not only in Olongapo but in the whole country.
Votebook: Bro. Eddie Villanueva
Eddie Villanueva
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party
Bangon Pilipinas
Hometown
Bulacan
Short Description
"This world is too poor to buy my convictions and principles
Votebook: Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Political Party
Hometown
Short Description
Political Party PMP
Hometown
Manila, Philippines
Short Description
Tunay at Tapat na Nagmamahal sa Masang Pilipino
Votebook: Gilberto 'Gibo' Teodoro Jr
Gilbert Teodoro
Hometown
Political Party
LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD
Hometown
Manila
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