ADVERTISEMENT
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“She [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] is the only president who implemented the bloodiest and most vicious counterinsurgency program because the focus of this is to attack civil-society organizations, a move that was not made by previous presidents,” Marie Hilao-Enriquez of Karapatan said.
By IBON FOUNDATION
Will the incoming administration take the bold steps needed to ensure land distribution and enhance agricultural production? Will the president-apparent promote measures in favor of building and strengthening local industries?
By RONALYN OLEA
“Some say the sins of the father should not be passed on to the children but the First Family immensely benefited during Marcos’ reign. In that sense, they are part of the accountability,” said Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, former political prisoner and torture victim during the Marcos dictatorship.
By D. L. MONDELO
“The automated electoral system does not prevent the cheating tactics of the past but in fact allows cheating in a bigger and faster way.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
While the 24 percent turnout in the overseas absentee voting during the 2010 elections is higher than the 16 percent turnout in 2007, this is still way below the 65 percent turnout in 2004.
By CAMILLE ANNE DE ASIS and CIELO EUNICE FLORES
“Media did a better job, but some of the old problems remain,” said Dean Luis Teodoro, Deputy Director of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
By CIELO EUNICE FLORES
“In theory or by law, the Comelec is legally responsible for the problems encountered in the elections…” Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, co-chair of the Joint Congressional committee on automated polls told a group of international observers.
By ANDREA ZARAH DAYAO AND ALEXANDRA FRANCISCO
“This bill protects BPO workers from understaffing or overloading and provides them freedom from interference or coercion, protection from discrimination, freedom from company bond and safeguards in administrative proceedings, among others,” said Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino.
By ANDREA ZARAH DAYAO
“No consultation has been conducted between us and the government” – San Roque Community Council (SRCC)
By MARYA SALAMAT
“With the many serious problems in the whole election process, it is only through the efforts of the people – the sacrifices made by the public school teachers and the resilience of voters – that the election was made possible,” said the Peoples' International Observers' Mission.
By JENNY S. DE VENECIA
International observer intimidated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Abra
By CAMILLE ANNE DE ASIS
“Though the automation of the elections brought quite a few positive changes in the electoral system...Unfortunately, these improvements were not sufficient to break the established system of command votes, in which political leaders dictate people’s choices, and continues to thwart the true exercise of the right to suffrage,” said Salik Ibrahim of the Citizens’ Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms.
By CHERYLL D. FIEL / Davao Today
The City Board of Canvassers in Davao lowered the threshold of votes necessary for the winning candidates to be proclaimed winners. The Board proclaimed the winners five hours after it resumed counting of votes on Wednesday, May 12.
By GERMELINA LACORTE / Davao Today
Carmen Gultiano, a voter in one of the precinct clusters at the Daniel Aguinaldo National High School, came out of her precinct tired, agitated and unable to hide her frustrations after spending six hours just to vote. Gultiano arrived at her precinct at eight o’clock in the morning and was only able to vote at two thirty in the afternoon.
By CHERYLL D. FIEL / Davao Today
It was not the machine glitches that many people were worried about but the poll clerk’s hunt for names of registered voters and other verification procedures that slowed down the voting process in the recently-concluded elections.
By PAULINE GIDGET R. ESTELLA
Teachers who served during the May 10 elections had to carry the burden of the lack in preparations of the Comelec. They also had to endure the people's anger at the long queues and yet some have not yet been paid.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
"We came to observe a clean, democratic elections, but I cannot conclude that it was," said Justine Kiwanuka, a delegate of the People's International Observers' Mission.
By BENJIE OLIVEROS
Election automation was able to fix what is happening inside the precincts, however, it was not able to solve the politics of guns, goons, and gold outside of it.
By SONNY AFRICA / IBON Features
The challenges that the looming Aquino administration faces are gigantic but could be addressed if it has the readiness to act.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Team of foreign election observers experience threat, harassments, and intimidation by military in Abra.
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.