FILIPINOS are entitled to know the truth about those null votes. With all the complaints of irregularities documented during the last elections involving the automated system itself (e.g. the PCOS machines, the CF Cards, the ballots), why should we take Smartmatic and Comelec’s word that these null votes are the result of voters not having voted for any VP candidate, or resulted from an undershaded oval beside the VP Candidate’s name, or overvoting – meaning thes voters vote for more than the These PCOS machines are hardly perfect, and may have mistakenly not counted appropriately filled out ballots.
What’s suspicious is that those null votes where significantly huge in areas where Jojo Binay led the VP count by at least 10 percent. These was evident in 3 regions alone. Also, in the Mindanao area, there was an unusually high turnout of voters in the ARMM provinces reaching over 90 percent, w/c was more than the national average of 70 percent. Ask any statistician and they will tell you that it’s statistically impossiblethat a candidate would just get zero or 1 vote, as what happened to Sen. MAR Roxas in the last elections. It’s deja vu all over again! Didn’t FPJ have this same problem when he ran in the 2004 presidential elections vs Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and he too received zero votes exactly in these very same areas that Roxas has been lagging behind Binay?
Congress as the National Board of Canvassers has the power to decide to count those votes. The legislators made the canvassing rules, and can very well adopt new rules and procedures to address the problem of those 3M null votes. The figure is just too large to ignore! Will the Senators and Congressmen be irresponsible and just close their eyes on this issue? What if it happened to them in the next elections?
Btw the Automated Election System Law (RA 8346) doesn’t contain any defintion of ‘null votes’, so I went to the Comelec web site to search through its resolutions and other documents which could contain the definition. Either there is no such published definition, or the Comelec web site was acting funky again.
And just for the sake of argument: Even if the null votes affect Sen. Noynoy Aquino and go the way of former President Joseph Estrada, as the Binay camp intrigues in an attempt to douse cold water on the LP’s assertions on behalf of Sen. Roxas, Aquino will still end up w/ a 2-million margin vs Estrada. So there.
Let’s get to the truth! Count those null votes now!
More than 79,000 voters failed to vote on election day due to wrong shipping of ballots and armed hostilities in 12 municipalities in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Commission on Elections said Friday.
A total of 79,920 voters from 203 clustered precincts in the country were affected by failure of elections in some towns in Iloilo, Samar, Sarangani, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a Comelec record showed.
Earlier, failure of elections has been recommended in 11 municipalities in the country although the poll body has yet to make official declarations and reschedule voting in these areas.
Declare failure of polls in Lanao Sur town, Comelec asked
MANILA, Philippines – A petition has been filed before the Commission on Elections en banc to declare failure of elections in another town in Lanao del Sur province, the eighth such petition that has been lodged before the poll body.
Tugaya has reportedly been the victim of harassment by armed groups that stalked the town’s polling precincts.
One lawyer Abubakar told the Comelec en banc that on election day, a grenade launcher was fired towards the school where elections were supposed to be held, resulting to fear among the voters and the board of election inspectors (BEIs).
•Tingting Cojuangco says Roxas camp only looking for someone to blame for prospective loss
MANILA, Philippines – A faction among the relatives of leading presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III junked his running mate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in favor of their long-time political ally, Jejomar “Jojo” Binay of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, according to Aquino-Roxas tandem supporter Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado.
“Ang dala ng mga Cojuangco ay Noy-Bi, not Noy-Mar (The Cojuangcos are carrying Noynoy-Binay, not Noynoy-Mar). They all came here [in Mindanao]. Tingting Cojuangco was here with Jun Simon,” Mercado, a professor at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City and founder of the Mindanao Leaders Coalition or Kusug Mindanaw, told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak in a phone interview.
Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco is Noynoy’s aunt. She is the wife of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., the younger brother of the late President Corazon Aquino whose alleged deals and influence-peddling during her administration led a columnist to coin the word Kamag-anak Inc. (Relatives Incorporated).
Uhm. Maybe it’s time we resurrect the old Cory Aquino aides who tried to secure former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ jewelry in Malacañan Palace, the day after the Marcos family was deposed. I’m sure they have juicy stories to re-tell.
Can votes ever be counted with a semblance of order in certain areas of Mindanao? Days after the Commission on Elections announced the likely winner in the presidential race, and with winners in many local contests already proclaimed, the nation is still waiting for the results from the usual trouble spots in Mindanao. Violence, documented on video, has erupted, and accusations of vote buying and cheating are flying in the Lanao provinces and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
THE NEWLY PROCLAIMED REPRESENTATIVE OF the second district of Pampanga, President Macapagal-Arroyo, has an urgent message for the nation: “Don’t get too excited over the election results; with me, it’s still politics as usual.” A mere two days after the country’s first, and generally successful, nationwide automated elections, and only five days before Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires from the Supreme Court, she created a new position: that of Chief-Justice-in-waiting. The timing, and the choice of her former aide, Justice Renato Corona, tell us the appointment was yet one more political act of the most politically partisan president since 1986.
THE scramble for the last peso that could be extorted in the last two minutes of the Arroyo administration is on. There no more big-ticket contracts to award. There are no buyers for the remaining government crown jewels set for privatization. But there’s still the old reliable “audit” of corporate taxpayers and the resulting “areglo.” Peanuts compared to the foiled NBN-ZTE deal, perhaps, but a few millions here and there pretty soon add up to a substantial sum, to crib from the late Everett Dirksen, the curmudgeon at the US Senate.
Sen. Noynoy Aquino, who is leading in the unofficial presidential tally, should rethink his exclusive stance on the presidency as if he, the comebacking civil socialites, and the Liberal Party (LP) would be all that is needed to run the country.
It appears that JC [delos Reyes], Senator Jamby Madrigal and Nick Perlas have evidence that something rotten has happened in the the way the counting was carried out by the Precinct Optical Count Scan (PCOS) machines’ software or memory cards and whatever or whoever. So they are asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to probe into the irregularities.
(Updated 4:11 PM) Voting hours will no longer be extended, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday afternoon after various groups sought another extension.
“Though there are requests to extend further, we will not likely extend it, because there really is no need to [do so] because if there are still voters, we will not close the polls. Magtutuloy-tuloy tayo [hanggang makaboto lahat],” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters on Monday. (We will proceed until everyone will be able to vote.)
Precincts adopt ‘number system’ to cope with long lines
MANILA, Philippines – Overwhelmed by the number of complaints from irate voters on Monday, some precincts have opted to adopt a number system to manage the swelling crowd.
Voters who endured long lines to cast their vote reported on social networking sites that they were given ‘stubs’ with priority numbers. The stubs correspond to a specific batch or time the voters will be allowed to do the actual voting.
Failure of elections has been recommended to 11 municipalities in the Visayas and Mindanao due to various reasons, among them the non-appearance of election inspectors, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.
Included in these towns are Masiu, Lumba-Bayabao, Lumba-Unayan and Tubaran in Lanao del Sur where members of the board of election inspectors (BEI) failed to show up, said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez at a press briefing.
DEFENSE Secretary Norberto Gonzales yesterday admitted that ensuring an honest, orderly and peaceful election will be difficult task based on the “nightmare” reports he has been getting from the field.
Gonzales’ admission came a day after Masbate governor Edna Kho surrendered two dozen high-powered firearms believed to have been used by her family’s private army in previous elections after last Tuesday’s peace and order council meeting with Gonzales and AFP chief Gen. Delfin Bangit.
“Frankly speaking, as your defense secretary, I’m kind of looking at the fact ahead of us when it comes to firearms, private armies, and wanting to make sure that our elections will be peaceful and orderly, it is really quite a task,” he said. “If I listen to the reports that I’m getting, wow, it’s a nightmare.”
A Malacañang official on Wednesday said that the new American envoy to Manila has predicted successful elections in the Philippines on May 10.
According to Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. was “happy” with all the preparations for next month’s polls, which will pick President Gloria Arroyo’s successor.
Mendoza revealed that preservation of democracy, operations against terrorists in southern Mindanao and dismantling of private armed groups in Masbate province in the Bicol region were among the issues that President Arroyo and Thomas discussed during a meeting.
MANILA, Philippines – Retired generals who joined the 1986 People Power revolution and served the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino have re-grouped to protect the votes of her son, Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
“We are prepared. Our group has prepared to protect and ensure that each of the Filipino voter’s vote shall be counted,” said retired Major General Ramon Montaño in a press conference on Wednesday.
The former chief of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary, which was later absorbed into the integrated Philippine National Police (PNP), said Aquino is the clear choice of the Filipino people.
‘Hello, Garci’ boys well entrenched for May 10 polls
MANILA, Philippines—The men who worked closely with disgraced former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano as he rigged the 2004 presidential elections are still well entrenched for the May 10 polls this year.
Together, the so-called “Hello, Garci” Boys control Mindanao, which is home to more than 10 million registered voters.
“Hello, Garci” became a popular phrase to refer to how President Arroyo addressed the commissioner when she was caught on tape asking Garcillano to ensure her a lead of at least 1 million votes over her rival, Fernando Poe Jr.
MANILA, Philippines – A total of 27 people, including a mayoralty bet and five running for councilor, were killed in 75 election-related violent incidents during the first 105 days of the campaign period for the May 10 general elections.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said yesterday the figure is lower compared to the 2004 and 2007 elections.
Espina said investigators were validating 61 more incidents, initially reported to be election-related, although there were indications that the motives were personal, business, and work related.
(Updated 8:03 p.m) An improvised explosive device went off on Monday in the southern Philippine province of Sarangani as Governor Miguel “Migz” Dominguez’s convoy was passing by, local police said. No one was reported hurt or killed.
Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, acting regional director of Central Mindanao, said they would determine whether the blast targeted Dominguez, who was on his way to meet Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. in General Santos City.
Khu said the incident occurred about 11:45 a.m. along the National Highway in Malapatan town. He said the explosive was planted on an abandoned red motorcycle.
The emergence of a new witness linking two Ampatuan clan members to the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao last November 23 may prompt acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to reconsider his order clearing them of the murder charges, Malacañang said on Sunday.
Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Agra had kept an open mind on the matter, to the point of setting up a committee to review his ruling.
“That may be new evidence. People should expect Secretary Agra to consider [the evidence] during the review,” Olivar said on government-run dzRB radio.
MANILA, Philippines – Two administration senatorial candidates have joined calls for the resignation of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, saying his clearing of two members of the Ampatuan clan in last year’s Maguindanao massacre has cast doubts on his credibility as justice chief.
Former justice secretary Silvestre Bello III and broadcaster Rey Langit, Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates, said Agra gained “public distrust” because of his move clearing Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan in the massacre of 57 people, including 32 journalists and two lawyers.
“This is just my personal thought, but I hope Secretary Agra will consider it because of the public outcry against his decision clearing the Ampatuans,” Bello said.
SO why is Malacañang speaking on behalf of Secretary Agra? Thought it didn’t have anything to do w/ Agra’s decision dismissing the charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan? Hmmm…
MANILA, Philippines—It’s all systems go for the May 10 elections, according to the Commission on Elections.
“We are 100 percent on target,” declared Comelec Chairman Jose Melo in an interview with reporters barely three weeks before the first nationwide automated elections May 10.
He said on Tuesday that the Comelec was within its schedule for the deliveries of ballots, the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) voting machines, ballot boxes, and other materials within this week.
Power supply for Mindanao during polls enough—energy chief
MANILA, Philippines—Mindanao can expect adequate power supply during the national elections in May, as the private sector and Department of Energy jointly have laid out concrete measures to avert possible power outages, Acting Energy Jose C. Ibazeta said on Tuesday.
Ibazeta said in a statement that these short-term measures, which included commitments from power generation companies and other concerned stakeholders on the island, were among those discussed during a meeting held on Monday.
The energy chief reported that Crystal Sugar Co. Inc. agreed to commission its biomass co-generation plant to supply as much as seven megawatts in additional capacity either to First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, Inc. Fibeco or directly to the Mindanao grid, once operational issues have been resolved.
MANILA, Philippines – Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra on Tuesday denied allegations he was paid to absolve 2 leaders of the Ampatuan clan from the Maguindanao massacre.
He also threatened to file a case against one of the private prosecutors representing the family of the 57 people killed in Maguindanao province last year.
“Sa ngayon ay pinag-iisipan ko ang aking options sa kanyang pahayag na ako ay nabayaran (I’m studying my options against her statement that I was paid),” Agra told radio dzMM, referring to Nena Santos, lawyer for the families of the massacre victims.
Agra said it's easy for Santos to make unfounded allegations because she has no accountability. He said there is no truth to Santos's allegations.
Santos said on Monday that money could have been a factor in Agra’s decision to exonerate suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Mamasapano town mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr. from the Maguindanao massacre.
An unexpected added impetus – the TIME Magazine cover
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo
Your Chair Wrecker first met our late “Icon and Saint of Democracy” — as TIME Magazine had hailed Cory C. Aquino — in her Times Street residence, sometime in late 1983, when I accompanied our late STAR Chairman Emeritus, Betty G. Belmonte. Betty had sought to interview Cory about her thoughts on the approaching Christmas season which would be the first Christmas the Aquino family will have without husband and father Ninoy.
Among the many topics we talked about, Cory shared a discussion she once had with Ninoy, whose assassination led to the 1986 People Power Revolution. Per Cory, Ninoy intimated how he felt that a person can apply all human and worldly means to attain a high public office but when it came to the presidency — it is a public office that is made in Heaven.
Agra says Ampatuans were elsewhere that day
POSTSCRIPT By Federico D. Pascual Jr.
CASE REVIEW: Like countless others enraged by the massacre last Nov. 23 of 57 individuals, 31 of them media workers, I was taken aback by news that two members of the Ampatuan clan blamed for the mass murder had been cleared by Justice Secretary Alberto Agra.
I was riled enough to start writing a piece assailing Agra’s reversing a recommendation of state prosecutors finding enough evidence to support charges in court. But when I read the secretary’s explanation, I held back, presuming that his appreciation of the facts and evidence was fair.
THIS peace activist, women’s rights advocate and community organizer is walking her talk by running for senator.
Yasmin Busran-Lao, 50, a candidate of the Liberal Party (LP), has made public service her life’s mission. She works with disadvantaged communities and the women of Muslim Mindanao, having grown up amid its violent conflicts and grinding poverty.
For her efforts, she was awarded the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Fellowship for Professional Development by the US Embassy and the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation in 2005.
“Fighting for the rights of Muslim women and other marginalized groups is something personal for me. I get enough satisfaction helping people gain a certain control over their lives,” Lao told the Women’s Feature Service.
Lao believes that ordinary people must be given opportunities to serve the country even if “they do not have the money and the clout that most politicians have.”
MANILA, Philippines—Journalists covering the defense beat on Monday added their voice assailing the decision of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to absolve two Ampatuan clan members from the murder charges in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.
“We, the members of the PNP (Philippine National Police) Press Corps, denounce the recent DoJ ruling dismissing the murder charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan,” journalists assigned in Camp Crame said in a statement.
The group directly linked Malacañang to the controversial decision of acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to exonerate the two clan members.
Prosecutors decry ‘lack of courtesy’ in dropping of murder raps vs 2 Ampatuans
A panel of government prosecutors on Monday claimed to have been bypassed by Justice Secretary Alberto Agra in his decision to clear two members of the Ampatuan clan in the massacre of 57 people in Maginadanao last year.
A GMA Flash Report quoted the prosecutors as saying that Agra had not consulted them, as a matter of courtesy, before he ordered the dropping of multiple murder charges against detained Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and cousin Akmad Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.
FROM ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon (10 am) via Facebook: “Govt prosecutor Richard Fadullon arrives at DÔJ: ‘we can’t be silent. We have to speak out against questionable process in release of resolution regarding the dropping of charges vs Zaldy and Ahmed Ampatuan. We were the last to know.’ “
Pulitika2010 