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Tag: 2010 elections

Very satisfied

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, Tita de Villa, national chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and Smartmatic people were all beaming with pride in last Friday’s presentation by Mahar Mangahas of the Social Weather Stations findings on the people’s evaluation of the May 2010 election.

Sponsored by the The Asia Foundation, it was an extensive poll, consisting of five separate surveys – four before the elections and one after – among voters and members of the Board of Election Inspectors.

The result was an overwhelming satisfaction (three out of four Filipinos) over the results of the first automated nationwide elections in the country.

The survey compared the satisfaction of voters and workers to the 2007 elections, which was not automated.

Securing election returns

COCs in a box
COCs in a box
Yesterday, under heavy security, ballot boxes containing election returns and certificates of canvass of May 10, 2010 elections were brought to the Batasan Pambansa, where the canvassing for the presidential and vice-presidential contest would be held.

The heavy security, the TV reporter annotated, was because of the reported switching of election returns that happened after 2004 elections.

In July 2008, I did for Vera Files a special report on the 2004 ER switching, which was the last stage of the grand conspiracy set up by Gloria Arroyo to defraud the Filipino people of their choice of president.

The ER switching, carried out starting at around midnight of Jan. 23, 2005, was done by the Special Action Force, the elite unit of the Philippine National Police.

Pakinggan ang reklamo, tuloy ang canvassing

Huwag tayong masyadong maiinip sa pag-iimbestiga ng mga reklamo tungkol sa mga palpak sa nakaraang eleksyon. Mabuti na hindi lang basta-basta isinasantabi ang mga lumalabas na reklamo tungkol sa mga palpak sa nakaraang automated elections.

Hindi katulad nang nangyari noong 2004 na ibinasura lang ni Sen. Francis Pangilinan at Rep. Raul Gonzales sa basurahang “Noted” ang mga reklamo kasama ang mga ebidensya ng dayaan.

Ngayon, kahit papaano pinapakinggan at hinihingan ng paliwanag ang Comelec at Smartmatic.

Ngayong araw magsisimula ang official canvassing ng mga boto para sa mga kandidato para presidente at bise-presidente. Sinabi ni Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile at iba pang mambabatas na malamang sa Hunyo 15, o bago pa lumampas sa petsa na yun, made-deklara na ang nanalo at magiging susunod na presidente.

Sana naman hindi madaling araw nila gawin yun katulad ng ginawa ni Gloria Arroyo noong 2004 na parang inisahan ang taumbayan.

Bangkok ablaze: It could’ve been us

By Raul Pangalangan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bangkok is literally up in flames—and Filipinos must take note. It could’ve been us. It could still be us.

Photo by AP.Thanks. Used without their permission.
Photo by AP.Thanks. Used without their permission.
We have not witnessed such open recourse to violence in urban centers in our recent history. Neither Edsa I nor Edsa II entailed the firing of live ammunition against civilians, and indeed we celebrate both events precisely for their non-violence. If at all, the bloodiest was Edsa III on May 1, 2001, which cost the lives of several Erap followers who protested Erap’s arrest at an agitated rally in Mendiola.

The most recent armed confrontation we’ve seen in Manila was the November 2008 assault on the Manila Peninsula when Brig. Gen. Danny Lim and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes walked out of the courtroom, where they were being tried, onto the streets of Makati. That was shocking enough for us—the TV video of an armored personnel carrier ramming through the lobby of a five-star hotel and of snipers and troops positioning themselves along Ayala Avenue. Yet that would’ve been a minor skirmish compared to the “mini-civil war” that Bangkok witnessed the past weeks.

Noy-Mar vs Noy-bi, proxy war of Hyatt 10 vs Kamag-anak Inc

Fe Zamora’s story “Inside story: Hyatt 10 vs Kamag-anak Inc.” has elicited two columns from Conrad de Quiros. Conrad’s columns also elicited reaction from John Nery, which elicited another reaction from Conrad.

I’m wondering, where is Noynoy Aquino in all these conflicting operations within his campaign?

I’m providing the links to all the articles. Have a glimpse of the Aquino presidency.

Esperon says he was cheated

The shoe is on the other foot

From: Philippine Daily Inquirer

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN, Philippines—Look who’s talking now.

A former Army general, who figured prominently in the controversial “Hello Garci” scandal in the 2004 elections, is now complaining of being cheated after losing in the congressional race in Pangasinan’s sixth district.

In a statement e-mailed to reporters, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, denounced vote-buying and the “bullying” of village voters that, he said, “altered the decision of the electorate.”

Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas clobbered Esperon, also former head of the Presidential Management Staff, who got 85,069 votes as against her 114,523 votes.

Pacquiao makes it; also Imelda, Arroyo

Jocjoc, Ermita, Montano lose

Philippine Daily Inquirer

They are popular and controversial candidates that local pundits thought had victory in the palms of their hands.

Some are facing the possibility of defeat: Scandal-riddled former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, priest-on-leave Eddie Panlilio, actor Cesar Montano, former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, and many former police and military generals.
Others have sealed or are sensing inevitable triumph: World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, actress Vilma Santos, the Marcoses, Singsons, Dutertes, Dazas and other political dynasties.

Bolante was being trounced by incumbent Gov. Victor Tanco in the closely watched gubernatorial race in Capiz, according to partial election results of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).