Gloria Arroyo’s Team Unity had always boasted that Mindanao is their bailiwick but recanvassed South Cotabato votes showed people went for Genuine Opposition senatorial bets. Here’s Malaya’s story by Gerard Naval:
Related story from the Inquirer: Cayetano dislodges Arroyo in 8th place
The allegations of re-elected Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes that votes of several senatorial candidates were either padded or shaved in South Cotabato were confirmed yesterday.
After a recanvassing of the province’s votes, which was ordered by the National Board of Canvassers (NBC), 141,674 votes were credited to Team Unity’s Juan Miguel Zubiri, or 77,000 votes more than the 218,674 he got in the original certificate of canvass (COC) submitted by the South Cotabato board of canvassers. Zubiri remained No. 13 in the Comelec count after the new COC was admitted by the NBC.
TU’s Ralph Recto, who was in 14th place, had 94,758 votes, compared to the 210,758 votes in the original COC.
Votes for six other Team Unity candidates were also found padded. These were for Joker Arroyo (212,971 in the original against 102,971 as recanvassed), Prospero Pichay (203,858 against 84,858), Michael Defensor (211,880 against 92,880), Vicente Magsaysay (150,471 against 62,471), Edgardo Angara (246,653 against 45,653) and Tessie Oreta (155,136 against 39,136).
The votes for Loren Legarda were also padded (323,011 against 280,011) and for Francis Pangilinan (229,382 against 223,382).
The vote tallies were “harmonized” after the NBC last Wednesday ordered the creation of a new provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to re-canvass the municipal COCs.
GO candidates dominated South Cotabato 9-1-2. Panfilo Lacson was No. 1 followed by Legarda, Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes, Benigno Aquino III, Pangilinan, Manuel Villar, Gregorio Honasan, Cayetano, Aquilino Pimentel III, Sonia Roco and Angara.
Opposition lawyers demanded that Provincial Election Supervisor Lilian Radam be charged with contempt after she failed to honor subpoenas to appear before the NBC.
“They did this (fraud) in 2004. They have done it again this time. We don’t want these people to serve again in the future,” said Leila de Lima, lawyer of Cayetano.
Region 12 commissioner-in-charge Romeo Brawner said they have temporarily relieved Radam and North Cotabato PES Yogie Martirizar preparatory to an investigation.
NBC deferred tallying the COCs Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Senate minority leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel said Comelec plans to move the venue of the national canvass to its main office in Intramuros.
“I think if the canvassing is transferred there, the public will feel more apprehensive that the Comelec is being less than transparent in handling the electoral process,” he said.
Pimentel urged Comelec to continue with the canvassing at the PICC as it is more open and accessible to people who wish to watch the proceedings.
Team Unity spokesman Joseph Durano said the re-canvassing of votes from Maguindanao is a course of action that will save TU candidates.
With some 200,000 votes still to be counted in Shariff Kabungsuan in Mindanao, GO is keeping close watch to protect the votes of three of its candidates who are in 9th, 11th, and 12th positions, he said.
Lacson said he has been coordinating with the camps of political allies to guard the votes of Pimentel, Trillanes and Cayetano.
He said Pimentel, Trillanes and Cayetano are now “marked targets” of the administration in its last-minute efforts to get more Senate seats.
Citing information from his paralegal volunteers, Lacson said figures from the provincial canvassing do not jibe with those in the municipal COCs.
“We saw erasures in the provincial canvass, especially those where we got zero votes. Yet, the corresponding copy of the COC that we have shows we got 2,000 or 24,000 votes,” he said.
The Liberal Party asked Comelec “to invalidate and not to canvass” certificates of election returns from Maguindanao on the ground of alleged massive election fraud.
LP was recognized as the dominant minority party in the elections.
In a petition filed on behalf of LP president Franklin Drilon, lawyer Wilfredo Asis asked the Comelec to invalidate the Maguindanao COC for senatorial candidates based on the P1 million “financial incentive” promised by Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Jr. to local political leaders who would deliver a 12-0 Team Unity win; on the so-called system of shura (consultation) as a disenfranchisement of the right of suffrage; on the registration of those under 18 years of age as voters and allowing them to vote; and on fraud in the preparation, transmission, receipt, custody and appreciation of the certificates of canvass at all levels. – With Dennis Gadil
Related story: North, South Cotabato election supervisors relieved
Here’s a salute to the people who are watchful and vigilant over our votes. At this final stretch when the TUta candidates are desperate to dislodge Cayetano, Trillanes, and Pimentel, there needs to be more focus on the poll results. It appears that the Comelec will now try more devious strategies to thwart the people’s will. Shame on the Comelec!
Halatang halata naman sila- puro round numbers ang differentia. Honest mistakes? Typo errors? Alin ang sira- ang calculators o ang mga utak ng mga taong namamahala. Broken heads talaga- sira (broken) ulo (heads).
In a Tribune report, NBC is said to be “mulling” filing charges against these three election terrorists who have flown the coop.
With Abalos at the helm, nothing will come out of this; another Garci affair in the making: Garci disappeared for a while, then returned amidst huge fanfare and applause from the gallery – they he made fun of the opposition members of the the House of Reps by lying through his teeth. These bandits form part of Gloria’s election cheating legacy.
I am under no illusion that these same people were part of the 2004 election cheating machinery of Gloria. They have become more brazen, more callous, committing banditry in broad daylight!
And to think that Abalos merely declared that they are “mulling” filing charges against them?
Abalos, COMELEC, the entire election institution, Malacanang, AFP, PNP, warlords, politicians, candidates, their supporters – all of them, to me, are guilty of having failed democracy. Their presence in any election, this one and the next, will taint any election!
Gloria, Abalos and their scalawags should step down and leave the nation be – there will be a bit more honesty.
The 9-1-2 votes for GO in South Cotabato effectively debunked the previous claims of TU that it is part of their stronghold including Maguindanao. Nagpatotoo rin na 12-0 for TU is really UNBILIBABOY & HAMPASABOL . Lumalabas ngayon na kung walang pandarayang ginagawa, ballot snatching and voting under the puno ng saging, talagang kakain ng alabok ng mga TU. Ngayon, lumalabas na ang truth. Ito’y dahil sa tiyaga at sakripisyo ng ating mga kababayan sa pagbabantay mula voting place hanggang sa canvassing. Umaasa tayo na sa wakas, ang mga taong ipoproklama ay siya talagang inihalal, hindi kasama ang noon pa’y nalubog na sa kangkungan.
Xanadu,
“ballot snatching and voting under the puno ng saging, ”
Iyan ang motto ni Gloria at ng mga miyembro ng Kennel Club niya na mag TUta! (Puro mga half breed naman kaya ayan, hindi manalo.)
I am so glad that young Cayetano is succeeding. Imagine, in spite of the uncounted Cayetano votes due to bandit Lozano and his chicken, Cayetano is still fighting strong.
I am certain that Alan Cayetano will contribute to the demise of Gloria Arroyo, her husband Jose Pidal and the entire Malacanang squatters of Pidals!
Ma’m Anna
With the harrowing experience and intimidation Cayetano suffered under the Arroyo administration, we hope, with his triumph in the senate, he will vigorously pursue his unrelenting cruzade to expose the Arroyo’s wrongdoings to the very end.
Hi Xanadu,
Yes, I hope so too but I am somehow confident that he will.
AdeBrux: I am under no illusion that these same people were part of the 2004 election cheating machinery of Gloria. They have become more brazen, more callous, committing banditry in broad daylight!
******
Anna, you should read the Kontra Daya report on the 2004 election. They were specifically mentioned there, but even when they were discovered to be doing hanky-panky with the election, they were protected by the unano and even promoted for giving her the 1M votes she needed to win over the more popular FPJ! Ang tindi talaga! Now, you wait for the new promotions unless Abaloslos stops being an ass, and in fact sacked together with his boss, the tiyanak and her cahoots!
So, 12-0 was just a slogan if we are to believe Gabby Claudio?!!
Just for a slogan:
1. TU poured in millions if not billions of pesos.
2. TU resorted to cheating in all kinds, shapes and sizes 3. up to voting under the puno ng saging.
4. TU abetted intimidation, harassments, burning and killings.
5. TU made a mockery of our democratic system of electing leaders.
What a slogan! Bilibid or not!
Dapat kasuhan ng electoral sabotage ang mga taga Comelec at BEI sa lantarang dagdag-bawas sa South Cotabato. Hindi ito honest mistake o clerical error. Kunsintidor si Comelec chief Benjamin Abalos. Sa daming reklamong dayaan wala pang nakukulong.
Slogan lang pala para kay Claudio ang AD nilang 12-0 for TU?
Sabi ng isang Pinay dito, “Sa everyday na ginawa ng Diyos, wala ng ginawa si Gloria at ang mga alipores nito kundi mag-bilibid ng mga kasinungalingan at justifications sa mga pinaggagawa at pinagsasabi nila!”
Balwarte nila ang Mindanao? That’s true… sa PANAGINIP! Hopefully, kaya nilang lulunin uli ang mga laway nila! Hindi na magpapaloko ang mga tao!
Re: Gabby Claudio: 12-0 was just a slogan
Bakit may pabuya o premyo kapag 12-0? Sabi ni SiRaulo Gonzalez may P10,000 pabuya kada barangay sa Iloilo City sa 12-0. Pati itong Ermitanyo may projecto daw. Akala mo sa kanya ang kaban ng bayan.
Oops, sorry, my just for a slogan should read:
1. TU poured in millions if not billions of pesos.
2. TU resorted to cheating in all kinds, shapes and sizes up to voting under the puno ng saging.
3. TU abetted intimidation, harassments, burning and killings.
4. TU declared the elections as generally peaceful and orderly. It’s peaceful with generals around and orderly because the established norm by the administration to cheat was followed as ordered.
5. TU made a mockery of our democratic system of electing leaders.
What a slogan! Bilibid or not!
UPDATE: Comelec as of 12:00 noon June 1, 2007
Top 12
1. Loren Legarda -17,386,558
2. Francis Escudero -17,235,727
3. Panfilo Lacson -14,652,623
4. Manuel Villar-14,456,245
5, Francis Pangilinan-13,782,8076
6. Benigno Aquino III- 13,594,012
7. Edgardo Angara-11,593,886
8. Alan Cayetano-11,137,623
9. Joker Arroyo-11,000,377
10. Gregorio Honasan-10,819,634
11. Antonio Trillanes IV- 10,468,589
12. Aquilino Pimentel III- 10,237,120
Caloocan Senate race: 9-2-1 for GO
Koko Pimentel widens lead by 218,783-votes
over Zubiri with Caloocan votes.
Source: GMA7 and Inq7.net
It appears that ex- Navy Lt. Trillanes is safe at this point. Abalos claims about 2.5 M votes more to tally from 8 provinces. How long we have to wait for final result? Tama na ang hocus focuses Mr. Chairman!
Days passed since the elections- 18. Number of senators proclaimed – 0.
At this very late stage in the canvassing, why is Abalos still scrounging around for any lame reason to delay the partial proclamation of the Top 7 candidates?
Why is he so averse to the idea of proclamation? Is it just me or is this highly irregular and highly suspicious?
Could it be that any proclamation, being legally-binding acts, would confer legitimacy to the elections and effectively scuttle whatever diabolical scheme Gloria is planning?
Parang may hinihintay kang mangyayari Tserman. Di pa ba tapos mag-strategize yung mga kasama mong demonyo?
Abalos, you sad old man, your jig is up.
Diego, the 2.5 million votes that Abalos is saying is based on registered votes. Since 55 percent only voted (according to Namfrel), it shouldb e a little over a million votes na lang. That’s including the 300,000 from Maguindanao which GO is blocking to be counted because those are manufactured votes and do not express the will of the people.
As of today, 93 per cent of the votes have been canvassed. I think Trillanes is safe. Huwag lang sila gumawa ng sarili nilang milagro.
Putting up a brave front, eh? Well, what else can she do? Her much-vaunted machinery juddered and conked out, her plans to cheat foiled by the vigilance of the people and the media.
Of course, she will say she is not affected by her defeat. But if Gloria Arroyo lies, Remy Martin does not. Expect another presidential visit to St. Luke’s soon.
———————————————————
From inquirer.net:
Arroyo unfazed by GO win in senatorial race
‘Politics won’t undo our economic progress’
By Michael Lim Ubac
Inquirer
Last updated 01:17pm (Mla time) 06/01/2007
MELBOURNE (Via PLDT) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is unfazed over the looming victory of the opposition in the senatorial elections, stressing that “politics won’t undo our economic progress” in the remainder of her term.
What economic progress is this idiot talking about? When Filipinos continue to prefer risking their lives and chastity to survive, it is not economic progress.
Nagyabang pa nga ang ungas sa speech niya dito na nabawasan daw ang mga OFWs dahil napauwi na ang marami sa kanila at barred na sila sa kung saan-saan, pero double daw ang padala nilang remittance. Gaga pala siya e. E papaanong hindi sila magpapadala ng dobleng remittance kahit na magutom sila at magpalimos kung saan sila e hindi kasya ang dati nilang padala dahil sa hocus-pocus depreciation ng dollar versus the peso. Ungas, sinong niloko ng pekeng economist na ito?
Golly, lahat nireretoke at ginagaya doon sa pagmumukha niyang madalas na ipainiksyon! Magkasakit sana ng cancer! Nice try boba!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Huwag nang hintayin ang 2010. Arestuhin na ang kriminal. She broke the law. She should be in jail. Baka pag nakulong ang ungas malaman ng mga pilipino na walang-wala na talagang laman ang kaban ng bansa.
Ingat lang po kasi baka ginawa nang collateral ang Pilipinas sa mga utang ng ungas sa Korea, China and even Japan!!! Alam ko iyong mga islands contested by the Chinese as theirs dahil nasa China Sea daw ay ibinigay na ng boba. Iyong Balikatan with the Aussies, may kapalit iyan na mas pabor sa mga Australians kesa sa mga Pilipino. Like father talaga, like daughter ang hinayupak!
What can I say yuko? Dugong Macapagal, Dugong Aso.
paalala lang sana duon sa mga lawyers, paralegals at volunteers nina Alan C., Sonny T., at Koko P., sa National Canvassing sa Manila, na bantayan ang ilang statistical aberrations sa mga kwestiyonableng lugar na natitira pa.
halimbawa, sabi ng Namfrel ang national average voters turnout ay nasa 55%. nuong kinagabihan ng Mayo 14, nagdeklara ang Comelec na nasa 65~85% daw ang bumoto, numerong kinundena ko nuon pa, kasi ang 20% na pagitan ay maari din nilang “laruin”. kung magbibigay ng mataas na datos ang mga nasabing lugar, 75~80%, alarm bells should be sounded.
kapag nasa 85% hanggang 90++% ang mga pigura, kailangan ipatigil na ang bilangan at igiit ang deklarasyon ng failure of elections o kung mahirap ito, busisihin ng husto ang mga ER’s, CoC’s at SOV’s hanggang sa mabubulatlat ang lahat.
ang obserbasyon na ito ay dugtong duon sa naunang poste ni Tongue T., tungkol sa anomalyadong 98% na voters turnout sa buong isla ng Cebu circa 2004.
(ang numerong 98%, maliban sa Hello Garci, ang mas nagkumbinse sa akin na nagkaroon ng malawakang dayaan nuon pa man)
Wow, sabi ng Comelec, “65~85% daw ang bumoto,”…
Talaga? hahahahah! In this country when statistics can be changed by Comelec at whim, heh, something diabolical is going to happen.
Ingat lang po kasi baka ginawa nang collateral ang Pilipinas sa mga utang ng ungas sa Korea, China and even Japan!!! Alam ko iyong mga islands contested by the Chinese as theirs dahil nasa China Sea daw ay ibinigay na ng boba. – ystakei
I think any contract entered into by this bogus presidency is null and void.
Anna:
Iyong ngang OFW, 15% lang ang bumoto ngayon. Baka ang ibig sabihin ni Abaloslos iyong bumoto noong 2004 na 65%. Noon ang nakalista lang na mga 350,000 lang yata compared to the 504,000 this time. Papaano niya sasabihin 65 or more percent e kung sa Mindanao nga natakot ang mga taong bumoto dahil nakabantay iyong mga sundalong kanin at iba pang hoodlum na pinadala ng mga binayaran ng mga vote robbers doon (di lang sila vote rigger, magnanakaw pa!). Iyong bumoto mga patay na ibinoto ng mga proxy nila!!! Golly, proxy voting pa ang labas! Sinasabi ni Abaloslos iyan para hindi nga naman halata iyong mga botong peke. Ungas talaga!
Politics won’t undo our economic progress? Look what I stumbled upon.
There’s an email going the rounds in the internet urging OFWs to have their voice heard and warn the administration and the Comelec not to tamper with the results of the senatorial elections. It is calling all OFWs and the global Filipinos that should this administration continue fooling around with the will of the people, their members will not remit to the Philippines any money for 30 days.
It also says that the 30 days without remittance by OFWs to the Philippine will mean:
1. Around a $1 billion lose of dollar earnings for the corrupt government of the Philippines.
2. There’s no economic miracle by a miracle genius but it’s simply the money of the OFWs keeping the economy afloat.
It is also warning Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to:
1. Stop going abroad with a hundred people in the entourage spending the OFWs money and instead spend it to alleviate poverty.
2. Seriously address the extra-judicial killings and kidnappings instead of providing lip service.
5. The people’s patient is now at the losing end and their continued muddling of the democratic process is inviting the masses to rise up and revolt.
Mukha atang may “population explosion” sa Phil. Ang sabi a week ago about a million votes ang hindi pa nabilang. Kahapon nabasa ko sabi ni Abalos 5 million. Saan nang galing? Ang galing nila magmultiply. Sana sira lang ang computers ng Comelec. BUT In computer language- GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT. Tinamaan ng kidlat ang sagingan kaya maraming “mushrooms” ang lumabas.
rose,
bah!, ang registered voters sa ilang munisipyo ng Lanao del Sur lumobo ng mahigit 100%, at sa isang bayan, 170% pa nga !
wala namang gold rush duon o abnormal na pagdami ng populasyon, pero ang listahan ng botante, naging lintek !
ibig sabihin nito, kung ang isang bayan ay may 100,000 na botante nuong 2004, naging 270,000 na ngayon !
sa loob ng 3 taon, merong 170,000 katao na ipinanganak, lahat nabuhay at naging legal age agad, para makaboto !!!
…merong DAGDAG na 170,000 katao na ipinanganak… (sori po)
This elections have proven that VIGILANCE is the strength of TRUTH & the nemesis of cheaters !
Ooops, should read:
This elections HAS proven that VIGILANCE is the strength of TRUTH & the nemesis of cheaters !
I’m amazed, Zen2, that you can accurately recall what I have posted here more than half a year ago.
Yes, I said that any turnout over 90% is impossible due to many reasons. Foremost of course is migration, whether local or internaional. 10,000 Pinoys leave the country everyday, imagine the number of those who just move to the next province or settle in Manila from the last elections.
Then count those who failed to vote on account of their jobs which required their presence even if it was election day.
Deduct also those who died since the last elections.
And those replacements (new qualified registrants) who did not even register.
Unless the inhabitants of Cebu live under some kind of self-contained immunizing shield, a good 2% of the adult population surely failed to make it to the precincts due to illness.
Which also means another good number of voters stayed home or in the hospitals to watch their patients, right?
Subtract also those who simply did not bother, with the heavy downpour over the whole island on May 11, 2004 as the voting was ongoing.
Finally, don’t miss the several thousands who were disenfranchised, intentionally or otherwise, which also accounts for those who decided not to vote anymore because of the hassle they may have experienced from the same disenfranchisement in a previous election.
Empirical data shows that Phil. election attendances are normally in the highs of 72% during presidential contests and about 63% during mid-term elections. I don’t see why this one should be different. Our own count of the precincts (186 tops) in the school I supervised was from 33%-75%, with 55% as average, and the school was well within walking distance from the voters’ houses, fine weather that time, too. Our results are similar to South Cotabato: 9-1-2 with Angara as the only successful TUta!
The mere declaration by Abalos of 85% was an attempt to precondition the public of the final number of votes that the TUtas are capable of delivering, of course, through cheating.
What the cheating architects failed to factor in was the huge number of extremely-vigilant volunteers who never gave an inch to the sloppy job these friggin operators were so used to doing, they never even bothered to keep their fake numbers tight and unassailable.
Also, many Pinoys are just too fed up with the unending cheating they used to just ignore, they now come out openly, with a great sense of heroic honor and infectious patriotism that has swept the whole country.
I, for one, never really expected such response from our countrymen. We must admit many of us here doubted we could really turn the tide against this cheating-lying-stealing-killing regime because of its much vaunted well-oiled machinery. But then again, we prayed we would be proven wrong this time. And we were.
We’ve cracked our heads checking the numbers for any possibility that any late twist would allow the last three seats be stolen from the opposition, THERE ISN’T ANY! From Legarda down to Trillanes, everyone is statistically safe and in the bag. Pimentel is not as safe but he has his father who is a veteren cheating victim he can spot a needle in the haystack from a distance.
To all of us, congratulations!
“We’ve cracked our heads checking the numbers for any possibility that any late twist would allow the last three seats be stolen from the opposition, THERE ISN’T ANY! From Legarda down to Trillanes, everyone is statistically safe and in the bag.”
Hooray TT!
south Cotabato, once touted to be TUTA’s bailiwick, have inexplicably transformed itself overnight as oppositionist’s paradise after the re-canvassing ?
truth is, so. cotabato people is one proud and quite independent lot. it plays host too, to the giant DOLE (the fruit company). on its own, fertile sandy loam soil provides most people an honest source of living in agriculture.
offhand personal estimates, the province could readily make it to one of highest, nationally, in terms of per capita college educated per household , if a survey is ever to be conducted. most kids are into school, even the poor.
squalid conditions commonly found in metro manila is a rarity in the place. nearby Gen Santos City, the largest tuna producer/processor in So East Asia; is also home to the fiery marketvendors who showered, well, threw tomatoes at the despicable President on her city market tour once, as a sign of protest to her being a usurper of power.
most people there, thus, if treated decently, responds even more decently and capable of empathy, too (note Sonia Roco’s finish within the top 12).
im not surprised at all, that Migz Zubiri who claims to speak So. Cotabato’s vernaculars Ilonggo and Bisaya, did not even land in the top 12, notwithstanding his adopted political base, Bukidnon’s close proximity to the former.
truth is, there no soul i know, who lives in So. Cotabato (or even North Cotabato, for that matter), who is honestly excited of any Zubiri getting in the national position.
sounds unfair, you say, and might be even right, but ask any traveller from South and North Cotabato, who wants to reach Northern Mindanao capital city of Cagayan de Oro; who has no option other than take the Carmen (North Cotabato) bumpy, down to Damulog, Kibawe, Kitao-tao , Don Carlos (all in Bukidnon’s Zubiri district) regularly swear to high heavens the road conditions—a full 3 hours of heavens forbid ride down to the town (city now?) of Valencia! a road strip of 10 kilometers, or so, whose width size is slightly bigger than that of carabao’s sled, and barely able to accomodate a full-size bus !!!
no surprise either, that while Migz’ Old Man won over Rep. Nereus Acosta in the province gubernatorial race, its 7-3-2 in favor of GO in the senatorial race.
Zen2,
baka mga anak sa labas iyan, nag-uwian na sa kanilang lugar…Kasi tuwing election lang ang family reunion nila.
Zen2,
The people in South Cotabato are very much Westernized, if you will, I’ve seen real Pinoy cowboys in the huge Dole plantation in Polomolok, So. Cotabato not so many years ago. American food giant Castle and Cooke has showcased there how business and community could grow together without much intervention from government and if there is any model that other communities should emulate, there it is.
Dole’s competitor, Del Monte, is in Bukidnon where the Zubiris have lorded it over everyone else. Which partly explains why it’s not in the same class as So. Cotabato. Been there, too. I didn’t experience though that 3-hrs-for-10-kms hellride since Del Monte has its own airstrip that can accommodate their small planes.
It’s the same pattern all over. Whether in Metro Manila or South Cotabato or any province, GO has slaughtered TUta in, as you said, places where well-educated people live.
What would that make of Cebu then?