Comelec – Page 3 – ellen tordesillas

Making sure 2010 elections work

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2009

In a democracy, which the Philippines is, leaders are chosen through elections.

Elections must reflect the will of the people. A rigged election, like what happened in 2004, is an assault on democracy and a crime against the Filipino people. Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts must be made to answer some day.

It is for our concern for democracy in this country that we want to make sure that the will of the people is reflected in the 2010 elections. It is our outrage over what happened in the 2004 elections that we raise questions about how the Commission on Elections would conduct the first nationwide automated elections in 2010.

The Source Code

Published by Ellen on August 16, 2009

It’s good to be back in Cagayan de Oro after so many years.

The 5th Mindanao Media Summit, held last weekend at the Marco Resort Hotel, a 30-minute ride from downtown CDO, has for its theme, “Election 2010, Vote for Change, Vote for Peace.”

I’d like to thank James Jimenez, Comelec’s information officer, for giving me his power point presentation for media in the 2010 elections. I and the participants in the media summit found it very useful.

The Media Summit was made possible by the Asia Foundation, USAID, Embassy of Canada, 7107 Island Cruise, Center for Community Journalism and Development, VERA Files, Smart and Coca-Cola Export Corporation.

It’s a pity that Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento was not able to make it although he sent his prepared speech. I had wanted to ask him about the “Source Code” which he mentioned in his written speech.

Melo defends initial payments

Published by Ellen on July 21, 2009

by Gerard Naval
Malaya

From the Inquirer: SC sees no need for a TRO on payments

Elections chair Jose Melo yesterday rejected the call of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) to withhold the initial payment to Smartmatic/Total Management Information for the 2010 poll automation contract saying it would be tantamount to the complete stoppage of the entire project.

“It’s almost like imposing a temporary restraining order on ourselves,” he told reporters.

“Why should we not pay them if they were able to deliver? They might not send their next deliverables if we don’t pay the previous deliverables,” Melo told reporters.

Hindi solusyon ang pagshortcut ng batas

Published by Ellen on July 20, 2009

Gusto ko talaga na magiging automated o computerized na ang eleksyon sa 2010 para mabawasan ang dayaan.

Sa bilangan kasi ang malakihang dayaan. Kaya kapag hindi manual (yung tao ang magbibilang), naniniwala ako na mababawasan ang dayaan.

Dapat masaya tayo na naayos kontrata ng Smartmatic-TIM at Comelec at tuloy-tuloy na ang computerized election. Kaya lang, mukhang maraming nakatagong mga hindi kanais-nais itong kontrata na ngayon lang lumalabas.Kapag kwestyunable ang kumpanya, medyo nakakatakot sa laki at napaka-importante ng kontratang ito.

Smartmatic TIM to get windfall even before delivering counting machines

Published by Ellen on July 20, 2009

by Yvonne T. Chua VERA Files The winner of the government’s P7.2 billion automated elections project will get close to P3 billion, or 40 percent…

Abalos-Melo connection

Published by Ellen on July 17, 2009

The pictures show Comelec Chair Jose Melo (in barong) behind then Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos during the Senate hearing of the NBN/ZTE deal. Seeing those…

Smartmatic-TIM: Control of P7B triggered rift

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2009

From Malaya:

‘Mr. X’ wanted piece of the action

Final control by Smartmatic Corp., the foreign partner in the election computerization project of the Commission on Elections, of how the contracted P7.2 billion cost of the project will be spent is the reason Total Information Management, the Filipino partner, decided to dump the partnership.

TIM rejected the proposal of Smartmatic, saying this was contrary to the nature of a joint venture and “would expose it to possible violations of Philippine laws.”

TIM’s fear of exposure to “possible violation of Philippine laws,” sources familiar with the deal said, was prompted by the entry of a person with the highest political connections into the deal as a “carried” partner.”

Kahit pumalya ang eleksyon, hindi pa rin pwede si GMA

Published by Ellen on June 24, 2009

Kahit anong emrgency na sitwasyon ang mangyari, bumaha man o kung ano man, hindi pwedeng hindi bababa si Gloria Arroyo sa Malacañang paglampas ng 12 ng hapon ng Hunyo 30, 2010, sabi ng eksperto sa Constitution na si Edwin Lacierda.

“Come hell or high water, Gloria arroyo cannot be caretaker president when her term ends noon of June 30, 2010,” sabi ni Lacierda sa programang “Strictly Politics” ni Pia Hontiveros sa ANC kung saan pinag-usapan ang kinatatakutan na failure of elections sa May 10, 2010.

Dati kasi pinapalutang ni National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales ang ideya na “caretaker” president daw si Arroyo hanggang magkaroon ng bagong president? Hindi na nakuntento sa siyam na taon sa Malacañang, ang pinakamahaba na pag-upo ng isang presidente na hindi naman binoto ng taumbayan (maliban kay Ferdinand Marcos).

May eleksyon ba?

Published by Ellen on May 18, 2009

Nago-organisa na ang mga gustong kumandidato para sa 2010 na eleksyon. Hindi lang sa pagka-presidente. Pati na rin ang mga gustong kumandidato sa mga lokal na pwesto.

Sa Pilipinas kasi ang eleksyon ay parang piyesta. Ang tingin ng marami sa atin sa eleksyon ay isang masayang okasyon kung saan umuuwi tayo na busog ang tiyan at kung swertehin ay may pabaon pa.

At yun lang ang panahon na nilalapitan tayo ng mga pulitiko. Kapag hindi eleksyon, pinatataguan tayo.

Linisin ang listahan ng botante

Published by Ellen on March 7, 2009

Computerized na ang eleksyon sa 2010.

Handang-handa na raw ang Commission on Election na magiging computerized ang eleksyon sa buong bansa sa 2010 pagkatapos naipasa ng House of Representatives at ng Senado noong Huwebes ang P11.3 milyon na supplemental budget pambili ng mga kagamitan para dito.

Sabi ni Comelec Chair Jose Melo, sa computerized na eleksyon, malalaman raw and resulta sa loob ng dalawang araw. Galing!

Sa computerized na eleksyon, sa halip na susulatin ng botante ang pangalan ng mga kandidato, i-itimin lang ang espasyo na nakatala sa pangalan ng kandidato. Ipasok sa optical machine reader na siyang magbibilang ng boto.

Tag: Comelec