Two teams would visit the Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon regions. They would be visiting militarized areas where human rights violations and harassments against progressive party lists have been documented.

The IOM would also be observing the elections in Pres. Arroyo’s bailiwick in Pampanga, where her son Mikey Arroyo is running for a second congressional term.

Pampanga also faces a three-cornered gubernatorial race between two Arroyo allies allegedly involved in jueteng (an illegal lottery game) and quarrying operations and a Catholic priest.

A team would also venture far South in Mindanao to monitor the situation in provinces cited in both the “Hello Garci” tapes and an alleged plot dubbed “Oplan Mercury Rising” disclosed by Bantay Boto, an election watchdog composed of retired military officers.

The team would be heading for Compostela Valley where military troops from the 67th, 28th, and 25th Infantry Battalions under the 1001st Brigade have been accused of involvement in at least four cases of killings and other documented cases of torture, harassment, and black propaganda directed against progressive party-list organizations such as Bayan Muna (People First) and Anakpawis (Toling Masses).

New Bataan, Compostela Valley is also the site where Grecil Buya, a nine (9) year-old school girl, was shot dead by military troops last March 31, 2007. In an apparent attempt to cover-up the incident, the military initially claimed that Grecil was a “child combatant” of the New People’s Army and was carrying an M-16 rifle.

Another particular area of concern would be the province of Lanao del Sur, which was mentioned in alleged wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano during the 2004 Presidential elections. Namfrel officer Hadji Abdullah Dalidig testified then before the Senate that the 2004 elections in the province was the dirtiest ever.

The IOM team will also visit selected areas in Bicol, Central Visayas, Cebu, and Quezon Province.

Defining event

Bolocon said this year’s elections would define Philippine politics in the years to come.

“Should the administration bets make it, Charter change, including the shift to a parliamentary form of government, would be a foregone conclusion, that is, unless another groundswell of protests develops. On the other hand, should the opposition win especially in the Lower House, Arroyo’s impeachment would almost be a certainty,” Bolocon said.

“This situation has heightened cases of election-related violence and harassments,” Bolocon said, “And this makes it a special concern for the People’s IOM.”

“The presence of our foreigner friends who have showed deep concern in the coming elections give support and contribute to the people’s efforts at countering the cycle of election fraud and violence in the Philippines, with special attention to those that might be committed against pro-democracy and pro-people party-list organizations and opposition candidates,” said Bolocon.

The two other convenors of the IOM are Dr. Edelina de la Paz, Assistant Professor of the College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines, and Trixie Concepcion, Secretary General of the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People. (Bulatlat.com)

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