This year’s elections could have the lowest voters’ turnout in recent years, given the 77-percent turnout in 2004 and 85 percent in 2001 BY THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT IN GOVERNANCE (CenPEG) Posted by Bulatlat ELECTION WATCH/ANALYSIS Vol. VII, No. 15 May 20-26, 2007 The voters’ turnout in the May 14 mid-term elections could be…
Tags: Philippine politics
Poll Fraud, Killings Perpetrated by Powers-that-Be
Contrary to government claims, electoral fraud and violence are not integral to Philippine culture and politics. It is perpetrated by those who profit from the existing system of Philippine politics and governance. BY BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat ANALYSIS Vol. VII, No. 15 May 20-26, 2007 “Generally peaceful” – this is how the Commission on Elections (Comelec)…
In the Eyes of a First-Time Voter
My first day as a voter went smoothly. Though there were many unprecedented events that happened later on, I was just relieved that I was able to vote without any worries. BY MAC BRYAN N. BAUTISTA BULATLAT ELECTION WATCH Vol. VII, No. 15 May 20-26, 2007 It’s been a few days since the end of…
Foreign Observers Witness Election Cheating
Reports reaching the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) show foreign observers witnessing incidents of cheating, voters’ disenfranchisement and other election violations. BY THE CENTER FOR PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT IN GOVERNANCE Posted by Bulatlat ELECTION WATCH/ANALYSIS Vol. VII, No. 15 May 20-26, 2007 Not since the snap presidential elections of 1986 have Philippine elections attracted…
Teachers: Working Like Beasts of Burden in Polls
Teachers are often said to be the heroes of every election season. This is because they are called on to do back-breaking, largely thankless work during the polls. Two teachers recount their experiences regarding the recently-concluded elections in this article. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO BULATLAT ELECTION WATCH Vol. VII, No. 15, May 20-26, 2007 Tax…
GMANews: 5 cops held over Batangas school burning
BY GMANEWS.TV Posted by Bulatlat ELECTION WATCH/BREAKING NEWS May 17, 2007 – 4:19pm The National Police on Thursday placed on restrictive custody five members of the Calabarzon Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) tagged as suspects in the burning of a school in Taysan town in Batangas province that killed a teacher and a poll watcher.…
GMANews.tv: Philippines Failed to Redeem Self from 2004 Scandal – Int’l Observers
BY GMANews.tv Posted by Bulatlat ELECTION WATCH/BREAKING NEWS May 17, 2007 – 6:15pm The Philippine government failed to redeem itself from suspicions that it “benefited” from such illegal practices in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2004 with rampant irregularities “allowed” in the region in the May 14 midterm polls. This was the…
Let’s Get the Debate On
By Ricky Gelido Posted by Bulatlat The political cauldron is getting hot. And it is expected to get hotter until May 14, the voting day. The intensity could even extend until the counting of the last vote. Since the onset of the campaign period, political gimmickry has permeated all over the country. Politicos have been…