Comelec has declared the special elections generally peaceful and successful. Here’s Inquirer’s report: The watchdogs were no match for the cheaters and the just-ended elections…
Making life worth living.
Author: Ellen
Narinig ko noong Linggo si Miguel Zubiri, senatorial candiate sa Team Unity na nagre-reklamo bakit raw kung ang TU ang lamang ay sinasabi ng GO nandaya sila samantalang sila raw hindi nagre-reklamo kung lamang ang GO.
Noong Sabado kasi, nagulantang ang lahat nang nakapasok si Zubiri sa Magic 12 sa unang pagkakataon. Si Koko Pimentel ang nawala na napunta sa number 14. Si Ralph Recto ang umakyat sa number 13.
Nangyari yun dahil pumasok ang mga boto galing sa Cebu. Ngunit kahapon, bumalik na si Koko Pimentel sa Magic 12 dahil pumasok na rin ang mga boto galing sa Quezon City.
ABS-CBN correspondents Ricky Carandang and Noel Alamar recorded on camera a deplorable act by a Comelec official: taking custody of blank election returns and bringing them to his hotel.
The Comelec official, identified on TV as Jubil Surmieda of the Comelec’s legal department and Reanult “Boy” Macarambon, who was mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes scandal in 2004.
Confronted with the evidence (a video-tape of the transport of the ERs to the hotel), Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento can only say, “I stake my name on it.”
What’s the value of Sarmiento’s name now?
The public drama involving businessman Mark Jimenez and wife Carol brings me back to my interview with the controversial former adviser of President Estrada in 1999 when I did an article about him for I-Magazine of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
It was a weird interview, one that I can say was the most unforgettable in my many years in journalism.
The interview was arranged by his sister. She instructed me to just “tell the butler” about the arranged interview once I got to No. 6 Intia St. in South Forbes (Imelda Marcos used to stay there in 1992).
Related stories:
Inquirer: Go ready for poll rigging
Koko says he lost 230,000 votes to ‘barbers”
Jamby helps protect Trillanes votes in Lanao del Sur
Marawi went for GO and Kiram
Man-to man-guarding:Lomibao left Marawi when Biazon arrived
Malacañang is hoping that more Team Unity senatorial candidates will make the winner’s circle after Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri took the No. 12 slot in the latest Commission on Elections count.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they are hoping that re-electionist Sen. Ralph Recto, who is in the 13th slot, would still make it as the votes from the South start to pour in.
The anti-fraud group Kontra Daya today warned that the inclusion in the national canvassing of questionable votes from Maguindanao and other fraud tainted provinces will further incite protest actions against the Comelec.
Another protest action is set on Wednesday next week at the Philippine International Convention Center where the national canvassing is being held. Last week’s rally drew a mixed crowd of opposition figures, militant groups and concerned citizens. Organizers estimate the rally to have peaked at around 3,000.
“There is already clear evidence that the elections in Maguindanao were rigged. The uncounted election returns and the highly improbable zero turn out for the opposition are the surest signs of election irregularities in the area. In the face of this glaring proof, canvassing of these votes will only demolish the credibility of the elections,” said Kontra Daya convenor Fr. Joe Dizon.
Kahapon, habang sinusulat ko itong kolumn, pinalabas sa ANC ang rambulang ng mga watchers ng political parties sa Lanao del Sur kung saan may special elections.
Ang special elections ay ginaganap kapag mayroon failure of elections sa isang lugar. Sa Lanao del Sur, maraming tanong sa voters list kaya hindi nagkaroon ng election noong May 14.
Sa ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) ginagawa itong special elections na raket. Malaking pera ang sangkot dito kaya nagpapatayan ang mga tao. Sinasabi nga ng marami na sinadsadya ang fauilure of elections para magkaroon ng special elections.
I’m sharing this article because I like the message that Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Don Cheadle is trying to bring which is care for others.
Pitt, Clooney, Cheadle move spotlight to Darfur
CANNES, France (Reuters) – Hollywood celebrities Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Don Cheadle have more than just acting in common — they share a passion for trying to help people from the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.
Yesterday, the Agence France Presse photographer and I were waiting for the elevator at the Makati City Hall at 9 a.m. (we were already fidgety because we wanted to be there early) for the hearing on the petition for media access of Lt(sg) Antonio Trillanes IV, Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate, when Trillanes came with his military escorts.
He was not handcuffed. (But after the hearing, on his way back to the military vehicle, he was again handcuffed to his escort.)
For a moment, everybody was stunned seeing Trillanes there. The photographer started clicking his camera. One woman took the courage and kissed him. Everybody got excited as they greeted him, “Idol! Idol!” and “Senator”.
AFP drowns rally for Burgos with music
by Victor Reyes
Loud music played in Camp Aguinaldo by military policemen yesterday drowned out calls of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and the Burgos family for the release of Joseph Jonas Burgos who has been missing for almost a month now.
Playing of loud music has become the military policy in distracting protest rallies at the camp’s gates.
“We are searching, we are not fighting. A mother should always search for her children. They should stop the music because our voices are being drowned out by the loud music,” Dr. Edita Burgos, Jonas’ mother, said.