Category: 2010 elections

Smartmatic’s indecent proposal

Published by Ellen on October 11, 2009

Last Friday, I got this strange letter from a certain Samira Saba of Smartmatic, the Dutch-Barbados-Venezuelan firm that partnered with the local Total Information Management and won the P7.2 billion contract for the nationwide automation of the 2010 elections.Here’s the letter:

Dear Mrs. Ellen,

My name is Samira Saba and I work at Smartmatic as the Marketing and Communications Manager (www.smartmatic.com).

I have checked your blog and I find it quite interesting. I can see the articles published are responsible, and show that you as a rule strive to inform and educate your readers. For instance, the article “Rock the vote!”

I would like to know if you have the time and the interest of writing some articles regarding the following subjects:

1) Election automation worldwide, and positive experiences in various countries.

2) Election automation in the Philippines, past and present.

3) Different technologies to automate an election. Perspectives and comparisons: shortcomings, advantages, political implications.

4) Smartmatic technology in particular (in this case, we would of course furnish appropriate materials to the required depth).

If you are interested in adding our organization as a regular client for your freelance writer services, we can define the extent and number of articles you could write monthly. I will be glad to give you more details and answer the questions you may have.

If your answer to the above is positive, then I would appreciate a quotation for your services, with a target of two articles published per month to begin with.

I look forward to hearing from you the soonest.

It was signed by Ms Saba.

I find the letter insulting. It smacks of bribery. I had to take several deep breaths and reminded myself that I should not write anything when I’m angry.

A semi-permanent state of emergency?

Published by Ellen on October 8, 2009

Malaya editorial:

Gloria Arroyo appears to have turned truly insane as she counts the days to her exit on June 30. Is the declared policy of prolonging the nationwide state of emergency in the wake of the devastation of typhoon “Ondoy” her perverse way of exacting retribution on the people for hating and distrusting her?

A deliberate policy of prolonging an emergency does not make sense. After the initial declaration, national and local government units have been freed to release their calamity and contingency funds. Relief and rehabilitation work can now be bidded out without going through stringent requirements for the duration of the emergency. Assessment of damage and drawing up of appropriate rehabilitation programs can be done within 60 days, the duration of an emergency unless otherwise extended.

But all of 365 days and counting to get these things done? Truly it is the hopelessly incompetent who cannot the job fast enough. We have been saying for a long time that Gloria, for all her self-proclaimed expertise as a manager, is at core an incompetent. Many were dazzled in her early years by the image she projected of being a modernizing politician cum technocrat. We were among the few who saw through her posturing early on. And proven right later on.

Rock the vote!

Published by Ellen on October 8, 2009

Reminder to first-time voters and those who will be transferring voting places: please don’t wait until Oct. 31, last day of registration.

The Commission on Elections said they will not be extending the deadline because they have to finalize the voters’ list. Remember that the 2010 elections will be the first supposedly nationwide automated elections.

The Smartmatic/TIM computers that Comelec will be using (Precinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS) are precinct-specific so it’s important that the voters list is finalized early.

After you have voted, pray that the PCOS that contains your name does not get misdelivered to a wrong precinct, just like what happened to many bunches of ballots and ballot boxes in the past elections.

The Samahang Magdalo, Taguig chapter, will stage “Rock the Vote” tomorrow Saturday, with a core message of encouraging first-time voters to register. “If we desire genuine changes and reforms from crooked governance, we must begin these steps at making sure we are legitimate voters before the Comelec,” said Lt. (s.g.) James Layug, head of the Samahang Magdalo in the city that organized the concert.

‘Twill be Manny-Noli

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2009

by Lito Banayo
Malaya

A highly reliable source informed this writer that over the weekend, Manuel Villar, presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party, was able to seal a deal with incumbent vice-president, Noli de Castro, to seek re-election for another term, this time as the former’s running-mate.

For a while, Villar was having a difficult time getting a vice-presidential partner. He had banked on being able to convince his fellow senator, Francis Escudero, to agree to run with him as his vice-presidential candidate. But sometime in late August, Escudero gave short shrift to the possibility. He said that he could not “in conscience” join up with someone who, on the basis of what had been uncovered in the C-5 investigation in the Senate, does not represent “good governance.”

Villar then tried to get Sen. Pia Cayetano to agree to be his team-mate, but she thought better than to eschew sure re-election as senator (based on surveys) and risk the same for a one-on-one contest. Then, Cebuanos thought that their governor, Gwen Garcia, could be persuaded by Villar to run as his vice-president. There were talks about a Villar-Binay ticket, but the latter decided to cast his lot with Joseph Estrada. On Wednesday next week, unless another feng shui expert re-schedules it, the political marriage of Jojo of Makati and Erap of San Juan will be announced, to be rent asunder only by a Supreme Court decision, after Erap files his certificate of candidacy on or around November 30, and not before.

Bagay sina Villar at De Castro

Published by Ellen on October 7, 2009

Ayun sa kolum ni Lito Banayo ngayon sa Malaya, pumayag na raw si Bise- Presidente Noli de Castro para magiging bise ni Sen. Manny Villar para sa 2010 eleksyun.

Maganda yun. Gumaganda na ang tambalan.

Sa administrasyon, Gilbert Teodoro-Ronnie Puno; sa mga hindi administrasyon (ayaw ko sabihing oposisyon dahil ang iba, hindi naman talaga laban kay Gloria Arroyo) nandiyan na ang Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas ng Liberal Party.

Si Chiz Escudero ng Nationalist People’s Coalition ay magiging 40 taong gulang na sa Sabado, Oct. 10. Ang plano, sa Lunes nya ipahayag ang kanyang kandidatura sa pagka-presidente. Hindi pa yata sigurado kung sino ang kanyang magiging bise presidente.

Nauubusan na ng gimik

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2009

Officials with Arroyo include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita (to Arroyo's right),Labor Secretary Marianito Roque behind Ermita), Foreign Undersecretaty Esteban Conejos (in barong,third guy first row) — Officials with Arroyo include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita (to Arroyo's right),Labor Secretary Marianito Roque behind Ermita), Foreign Undersecretaty Esteban Conejos (in barong . first row)

Nakita nyo ba ang litrato ni Gloria Arroyo kasama ang mga Overseas Filipino Workers na nag-eskapo sa kanilang mga malulupit na among Arabo nang siya ay dumating mula Saudi Arabia noong Huwebes?

Hindi ko alam kung ako ay maawa o maiinis.

Binigyan, siguro ng mga Labor officials, ang mga OFW ng miniature flag at kanila yun winawagayway na para bang Olympic team na na nanalo sa kompetisyun sa ibang bansa. Ano namang medalya ang kanilang dala? Luha sa kanilang malupit na karanasan?

Hilaw ang tawa ni Arroyo. Paano nang ininterbyu ng mga reporter ang mga OFW, panay pasakit ang kuwento.

Gusto ng Malacañang na palakpakan si Arroyo sa pagsagip ng mga kawawang OFW sa trahedya na kanilang napasukan.

Pwede ba, naibenta na ang ganyang gimik. Ginawa na yan ni Sen. Manny Villar at dating Pangulong Estrada.

Hindi pwedeng uubra kay Arroyo ang ganyang gimik dahil siya ang naka-upong pangulo (kahit ninakaw lang niya ang pwestong yun). Di ba programa niya ang magpadala ng mga Pilipino na sa ibang bansa bilang katulong? Mismo ang pamahalaan, ang TESDA, ang nagbibigay ng training para magiging supermaids. Kaya, ayan ang inabot ng marami nating kababaihan na OFW.

Hindi totoo ang P25 milyon: Boy Abunda

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2009

May natanggap akong tsismis noong isang araw na binabawi raw ng kampo ni Sen. Manny Villar ang P25 milyon na binayad kay Boy Abunda sa paglabas niya sa political ad kung saan ini-interview niya si Villar tungkol sa kayang pag-asenso sa pamamagitan ng sipag at tiyaga.

Si Sen. Noynoy Aquino na kasi ngayon ang tinutulungan ni Boy na matalik na kaibigan ni Kris Aquino.

Tinanong ko si Boy kung tutuo ang tsismis at natawa lang siya. Hindi totoo sabi niya.

“Nakakahiya naman kina Sen. Villar,” sabi ni Boy.

Sheer opportunism

Published by Ellen on September 22, 2009

Update: Romulo wants to have his cake and eat it too.He says he will vote for Noynoy but will serve Gloria up to the “end and beyond.” Story in comments.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo’s disclosure that he will be supporting Sen. Noynoy Aquino for president is nothing but sheer opportunism unless he does something to stop Gloria Arroyo’s degradation of the foreign service.

Right now, he can oppose Arroyo’s midnight appointment of Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos as ambassador the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva to replace Erlinda Basilio who will be retiring soon.

Arroyo has nine months left in her unelected presidency. As a political appointee, Esteban’s term is co-terminus with the appointing power. If he gets to assume the Geneva post in the next month or so, Esteban would only be serving for about seven months.

Iba ang “Partido Magdalo” sa “Samahang Magdalo”

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2009

Noong Martes, nagpuntahan ang nga defense reporters, ang mga nagku-cover sa mga pangyayari sa military, sa bahay ni Sen. Manny Villar sa Shaw Boulevard dahil sa press release ng Nacionalista Party na ang Partido Magdalo ay sasama sa kanila para suportahan ang kandidatura ni Villar para presidente.

Akala nila ay yung mga Magdalo na mga batang opisyal ng military na nanindigan laban sa corruption sa administrasyong Arroyo noong Hulyo 2003 sa Oakwood Hotel sa Makati. Ang isa doon ay si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV na hanggang ngayon ay nakakulong.

Nagtaka sila na pagdating nila doon, wala naman silang nakita na mga rebeldeng sundalo. Ang nandun ay mga taga-Cavite na mga pulitiko sa pangunguna ni Rep. Boying Remulla.

Bayani mathematics

Published by Ellen on September 16, 2009

Opisyal na: si Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro ang kandidato ng Lakas-Kampi-CMD, ang partido ng administrasyon ni Gloria Arroyo.

Iisa lang ang nagpresinta na gustong magkandidato na bise president- si Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno. Kaya Teodoro-Puno ang magiging tiket ng administrasyon.

Sa paghirang ng kandidatura ni Teodoro para president sa 2010 na eleksyon, malabo na si Bise Presidente Noli de Castro na tatakbo. Baka bumalik na lang siguro siya sa pagka-brodkaster.