2010 Elections: Massive Disenfranchisement of Voters Looms – Kontra Daya

By MARYA SALAMAT
The snail's pace in the voting process would create more problems than just the long lines voters have to endure.
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By MARYA SALAMAT
The snail's pace in the voting process would create more problems than just the long lines voters have to endure.

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The May 10 elections have officially began. As expected, the first five hours were far from smooth.

Bangued, ABRA -- In other precincts, people are complaining of the very slow process -- from checking the names of the voters to submitting the ballot to the PCOS machine. Some even went home because they cannot handle the extreme heat. At Precinct #7, BEIs manually collected the ballots. The PCOS machine cannot process the ballots due to defective CF card. The BEI said, they are still waiting for the replacement CF cards to arrive from Manila. A voter told Bulatlat in an interview that the glitches might disenfranchise the votes.

MAGUINDANAO -- Hundreds of people line up outside Buldon Elementary School since early morning to vote. While no untoward incident occurred, it’s a bit chaotic here as voters jostle to enter the voting precincts. "Magulo pero masaya," says Kabiba Tomawis, a voter.
By ANGEL S. AVERIA JR. / EU-CenPEG Project 3030/AESWatch
The cloud of doubt that hovers over the credibility and acceptability of the election results come May 10, 2010 has grown darker.
By SONNY AFRICA / IBON Features
Candidates can cultivate an image of reform but what exactly, beyond the predictable motherhood statements, can and will they do?

The final testing and sealing (FTS) in Marikina City was held on May 6, earlier than the announced May 7 testing. Board of Election inspectors and watchers are waiting as early as 10am but machine arrived after lunch. No ballot boxes were delivered.

In the final testing and sealing in Palatiw Elementary School in Pasig City on May 8, the common problem was the startup of the PCOS machine. The machine in Precinct 107 displayed the COMELEC logo for a long time. The machine had to be turned on and off. Many other machines unexpectedly shut down.

CAVITE -- Delegates of the People's International Observers’ Mission participated in the mock elections in San Labrador Town in Dasmariñas, Cavite today, May 9, 2010. In Dasmariñas North National High School, one precint experienced glitches when votes for some local candidates were not counted by the PCOS machine. The problem was solved when the CF card was replaced.

Datu Piang, MAGUINDANAO -- Workers unload election equipment at the Datu Piang town hall in Maguindanao. In some areas in the province, delivery of PCOS machines was a problem. Reports said this morning that Comelec people were prevented from delivering these machines to Buldon, a farflung town in Maguindanao.

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO, ANDREA ZARAH DAYAO, ANNE EDNALYN DELA CRUZ and ALEXANDRA GARBRIELLA FRANCISCO
With reports from PAGBABAGO! PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE
There are 61 candidates for senator, and yet only a few have been covered by the media. Thus, only the old names - those running for reelection or making a comeback - are making it to the top 12.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Buried beneath the mudslinging are the platforms or lack of it and position on issues of the presidential candidates. Bulatlat based the following report on the stand of the different presidential candidates from the analysis and criteria produced by Pagbabago!

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
As the elections are drawing near, threats against nominees of progressive party-list groups such as Kabataan are intensifying.

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“It’s a miracle if we will have a clean, peaceful, successful and credible elections.” - Fr. Joe Dizon of Kontra Daya.

BY ANDREA ZARAH DAYAO, ANNE EDNALYN DELA CRUZ and CIELO EUNICE FLORES
Little is known about what party-list groups represent and what they have done since party-list elections were first held in 1998.

By ANNE EDNALYN DELA CRUZ
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines endorses Makabayan senatoriables Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, who they believe, will uphold rights of journalists and the youth. Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino intends to amend the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.
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