Tag: 2013 elections

How much pull is an INC endorsement?

Published by Ellen on May 7, 2013

Iglesia ni Cristo’s list of senatorial candidates to be endorsed is interesting and intriguing.

Crossing party lines, INC’s list includes seven from Team PNoy (Sonny Angara,Bam Aquino,Alan Peter Cayetano,Grace Poe,Loren Legarda,Antonio Trillanes, and Cynthia Villar) and five from United Nationalist Alliance (JV Ejercito,Richard Gordon,Nancy Binay,Gringo Honasan and Jack Enrile).

An INC member said the day after the list was reported in media, a high ranking official of the church told them that it’s not final and changes may be made before the Monday election. That should keep the suspense among those in the list as well as those who want to get the endorsement that would be crucial in their getting into the Magic 12.

According to reliable survey groups like Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia, of all the religious groups, it’s only the INC that has proven to deliver command votes. There has been no proof of command votes delivered by El Shaddai, Jesus is Lord ( JIL was not able to make its leader, Eddie Villanueva, win in his past presidential bid. He is now a senatorial candidate and is not rating high in surveys) and other religious groups.

Spin

Published by Ellen on May 3, 2013

Spin, in media lingo, is using information to support a particular bias or slant.

It’s not exactly false but some aspects of the truth may have been glossed over.

As the campaign for the 2013 elections heats up, spin doctors are becoming more creative that sometimes, I get startled by what I hear and read.

Crunch time

Published by Ellen on April 30, 2013

Team PNoy and UNA. Thanks to Philstar for photo.

With two more weeks to go before Election Day, candidates are moving heaven and earth to get that much coveted post.

Expect more black propaganda, vote buying, junkings and soul-selling. Senatorial candidates would be dealing individually with local politicians. The declaration of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, head of the Liberal Party in Bicol, that he won’t be voting straight Team PNoy and include two candidates from the United Nationalist Alliance, will be replicated all over the country.

Salceda said that he will include UNA candidates JV Ejercito and Nancy Binay in his senatorial ticket.
Ejercito and Binay are only two of the UNA candidates in the Magic 12 in both Pulse Asia and SWS poll surveys, spoiling the exhortation of President Aquino for a straight Team PNoy victory.

Made for TV campaign rallies

Published by Ellen on February 10, 2013

Benigno Aquino III in Mindoro — Aquino campaigning in Mindoro 2010

Election campaign is non-stop, all-season in the Philippines. But officially, for the May election, it starts tomorrow, Feb. 12.

For the opening salvo, the administration’s Team PNoy will have its proclamation rally at the Plaza Miranda while the United Nationalist Alliance will have theirs in Cebu.

Although campaign rallies have lessened their importance as a vote- getting vehicle with the dominance of television and radio as sources of information on elections, barrio folks still look forward to them more as an entertainment show.

Campaign rallies usually feature entertainers. A rally of candidates for national positions (senators in this mid-term election) usually have movie and TV stars to attract a crowd. The masses enjoy free shows. It’s a balm to their weary body after a whole day of toil in the rice fields.

On the part of campaign organizers, campaign rallies are more of photo opportunities for them to show a big crowd on national TV hoping to create a bandwagon.

Do’s and don’t’s on election period

Published by Ellen on January 13, 2013

checkpoint — From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXzgYt46120&feature=youtube_gdata

Election period started Sunday night, Jan. 13 in connection with the May 13, 2013 synchronized national and local elections.

It’s a 120- day period that will end on June 12.

Election being an important exercise in a democracy, the government wants to make sure that the environment is conducive to the people being able to choose their leaders freely and peacefully. Thus, there are do’s and don’ts in the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa 881) that law enforcers are implementing.

Bakit kaya hindi nababahala si Brillantes sa mga palpak ng NPO?

Published by Ellen on November 10, 2012

Nagrampa giving instructionsB — An NPO official gives intsructions to NPO employees how to shade sample ballots for testing prior to scheduled testing in violation of BAC rules and procedures that only the BAC chairman should initiate such action together with other members of the committee.

Nakakapagtaka, nakakaduda at nakakabahala ang hindi pagkabahala ng Commission on Elections sa mga palpak na nagyayari sa bidding ng pag-imprinta ng balota na gagamitin sa 2013 na eleksyun.

Inamin ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. na palpak ang mga balota na ginawa ng Holy Family Printing Corp, ang pinanalo ng National Printing Office sa pag-imprenta ng 55 milyon na balota para sa 2013 na eleksyun.

Dapat kasi sa testing , isang libo na sample ballots ang gamitin. Noong unang test, Septyembre 12, 2012, walo lang ang dala ng Holy Family. Di ba dapat noon pa lang disqualified na sila dahil ibig sabihin nun, nag-bid sila na hindi pala sila handa gumawa ng trabaho na gusto nila kunin.

Hindi ito basta-basta lang trabaho. Balota ito para sa national na eleksyun. Demokrasya ng bansa ang nakasalalay dito.

Ngunit okay lang sa NPO. Sinubukan nila ang walong sample ballot na dala ng Holy Family. Anim sa walo ay hindi nagkasya sa makita na nabili na ng Comelec- ang Precinct Count Optical Scan machines galing sa Smartmatic.

Paano ngayun yun?

Sobra talaga ang bait ng NPO sa Holy Family . Binigyan ng isang buwan para ayusin ang kanilang trabaho.

Nagkaroon ng pangalawang test noong Oktubre 11, 2012. “Isang libong balota ang ginamit at perfect ayun sa report sa amin,” sabi ni Brillantes.

Scary decisions by the National Printing Office re 2013 elections ballots

Published by Ellen on October 28, 2012

NPO employees shading sample ballots2 — NPO employees shading sample ballots ahead of the 1 p.m schedule in violation of rules that it should be done in the presence of BAC members.

NPO employees shading sample ballots prior to scheduled testing 1 pm of Oct 11, 2012. A violation of the rules because it should be only done in the presence of BAC members.[/caption]Strange things are going on at the National Printing Office which has been given the job to bid out P780 million contract to supply and print 55 million ballots for the May 2013 elections.

This will be the Philippines’ second national automated elections.

The 2010 election was not perfect but for a first-time experience, it was a huge success. In less than 24 hours, the nation knew the results of the presidential and vice-presidential race with almost 70 percent of the votes counted. A Social Weather Stations survey showed overwhelming satisfaction (three out of four Filipinos) over the results of the first automated nationwide elections in the country.

It is disturbing that instead of learning from good practices of the 2010 election and leveling up the preparations for the 2013 elections, some of those involved in the 2013 elections preparations are sliding back which could erase whatever gains that the country has gained in holding credible elections.

In the 2010 elections, the Commission on Elections used precinct count optical scan machines supplied by Smartmatic. The same 82,000 PCOS machines will be used in the 2013 elections. The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the P1.8 billion contract Comelec has entered with Smartmatic.

Huwag gawing sangkalan ang Panginoon

Published by Ellen on October 6, 2012

Pacquiaos file COC — In preparation for post -boxing life, Pacquiao builds political dynasty.

Sabi ni Manny Pacquiao, hindi naman daw talaga gusto ng kanyang asawang si Jinkee na pumasok sa pulitika.

“God’s will (Kagustuhan ng Panginoon),” daw ang kandidatura ngayon ni Jinkee bilang vice-governor ng Saranggani.

Tumigil na nga sa kagagamit ng pangalan ng Diyos. Bakit naka-usap ba siya ng Panginoon? Wala lang talaga silang kabusugan sa pera at kapangyarihan.

Congressman ngayon si Pacquiao at nakapaghain na rin siya ng certificate of candidacy para sa kanyang re-election. Ang kanyang kapatid na si Rogelio ay tatakbo para congressman sa first district ng South South Cotabato.

Bakit kaya hindi tumakbo si Nanay Dionisia na senador?

Campaign lies?

Published by Ellen on October 2, 2012

Admin senatorial lineup — President Aquino and the administration’s senatorial bets witness the signing of coalition for 2013 election agreement among LP,NP,NPC,PDP-Laban,Akbayan,NUP. Photo by Mario Ignacio of VERA Files.

Thanks, Secretary Lacierda for this statement: “Campaigning is campaigning. There were words that were exchanged during that time but we move on for the sake of the country.”

At least now, we know how to take your words, the words of President Aquino and all politicians in the coming campaign for the May 2013 elections.

Many of us were not wise enough to have taken your and your partymates’ words seriously in the 2010 elections. That’s a valuable lesson learned.

Lacierda made the above statement when asked about the inclusion of Cynthia Villar, wife of Senator Manny Villar, in the administration 2013 senatorial ticket.

Positioning na para sa 2013 na eleksyun para senador

Published by Ellen on December 10, 2011

Sa 2013 pa ang eleksyun sa pagka-senador ngunit ngayon pa lang pumuporma na ang mga gustong tumakbo.

Sa survey ng Pulse Asia na isinagawa noong isang buwan, pumasok si Justice Secretary Leila de Lima sa sinasabing Magic 12. Kaya kung ang eleksyun ay gagawin ngayong araw, sigurado na sa senado si De Lima.