Press Release
May 6, 2010

DAVAO CITY — In a candle lighting and prayer vigil today held at Centennial Park, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Southern Mindanao Region calls for unity among various opposition parties against the plot to fail the upcoming May 2010 election. Bayan expressed disgust over the COMELEC’s failure to patch up possible technical problems exactly four days before the election.

Bayan also hit the COMELEC’s lack of contingency measures that will ensure clean and truthful election results. For the group, such failure of the COMELEC will lead to massive fraud like what happened in the 2004 election.

According to John Birondo, Spokesperson of BAYAN-SMR, “we have been saying that the US-Arroyo regime will cling to power and this attempt to sabotage the election is her way to stay in power. The Malacañang is behind all of these delaying tactics of the COMELEC because GMA really doesn’t want to leave her post.”

Birondo said “ We are aware of DND Secretary Norberto Gonzales’ ploy to initiate a military junta just to make sure that Arroyo will still be in control. We are warning the people of the post election military junta which is being groomed by the likes of Norberto Gonzales and other close military allies of the Malacañang.”

Birondo stressed that the highly questionable appointments of new Chief Justice and Lt.Gen. Delfin Bangit as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are all part of the scheme to sabotage this election.

Bangit, a member of Philippine Military Academy batch 78 and a mistah of Arroyo was appointed as AFP’s chief of staff last March 10 in replacement of Gen. Ibrado last March 10. The appointments, according to Birondo, were unconstitutional as such is prohibited under Section 15, Article VII of the Constitution.

Bayan called for the people to exercise their right to suffrage as it would be easier for the Arroyo camp to declare the failure of election if people will not cast their votes.

Birondo also expressed the possibility of another people power come the time the elections will fail or the people’s votes will be rigged.

The candle lighting dubbed “The People’s Prayers for Vigilance and Genuine Democracy” was attended by various militant leaders and groups from the academe, youth, church, lawyers and urban poor. They lighted a candle to signify their unity versus electoral fraud and violence. (Bulatlat.com)