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Updates |
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Election
hot-spots being monitored |
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As the election period draws
near, incidence of election-related violence were noted
in many regions and provinces in the country. The
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Comelec are
assessing the areas that are considered as election
hot-spots and places where private armies might be
present.
continued
>>> |
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COMELEC bid out
goods and services for the 2013 elections |
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The Commission on Elections’
(Comelec) Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) has
conducted public bidding for a total of nine lots for
the goods and services that will be employed or used for
the 2013 elections. Following are the items that the
Comelec has bid out for and the status of the
procurement:
continued >>> |
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Comelec approves NPO
procurement of ballot printing services |
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For the supply and printing of
official ballots for the 2013 elections, the Comelec
upheld the awarding of the contract to the Holy Family
Printing Corp. (HFPC) and Canon Marketing Philippines by
the National Printing Office (NPO)..
continued >>> |
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A roundup
of regional election news |
Former
Dapitan City mayor disallowed to run for public office
Former Dapitan city mayor Dominador Jalosjos lost his
privilege to run for public office as the Supreme Court
(SC) affirmed its previous ruling which provides that
the former mayor is ineligible to run due to his past
criminal conviction.
continued
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Dominion's response to Smartmatic (October 17, 2012) |
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Former Comelec and
NAMFREL Chairman Christian Monsod's election
contribution recognized through 2012 Baxter Award |
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The National Citizens Movement
for Free Elections (NAMFREL) proudly congratulates Mr.
Christian Monsod for being the recipient of this year's
Joe C. Baxter Award from the International Foundation
for Election Systems (IFES).
continued >>> |
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Response of Christian S.
Monsod on being given the Joe C. Baxter Award for 2012
by the IFES, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Washington DC, November
5, 2012 |
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I am deeply honored at being
given the Joe C. Baxter award for 2012 by the
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. I thank
its Board of Directors and its Philippine Office for
this unexpected honor. It is a most welcome boost to the
task of nation-building of which IFES has been a valued
partner through the years.
continued >>> |
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Comelec starts
preparing for Random Manual Audit for the 2013 elections |
October 30, 2012
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), through
Resolution no. 9538, reappointed the members of the 2010 Random
Manual Audit Committee (RMAC) to carry out the random manual audit
for the 2013 automated elections:
continued >>> |
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Comelec-Smartmatic contract upheld by high court |
October 30, 2012
On October 23, 2012, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled with
finality that the contract between the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) and Smartmatic-TIM Corp. for the counting machines to be
used for the 2013 elections is valid. The contract, amounting to PhP
1.8 billion, is for the option to purchase (OTP) availed by the
Comelec which is a component of its contract with Smartmatic for the
2010 automated elections.
continued >>> |
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Ballot samples test
conducted as short-listed suppliers are questioned |
October 30, 2012
One thousand (1,000) ballot samples were tested at the
National Printing Office (NPO) on October 11 and 12, 2012, through
the recommendation of the Comelec. The NPO was instructed to have
the ballot samples tested if they will be read and accepted by the
Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines. Comelec required this
testing before the contract is awarded to the winning bidder for
paper ballots and security printing.
continued >>> |
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House approves
bill providing for insurance coverage for poll workers |
October 30, 2012
Individuals serving as members of the Board of Elections
Inspectors (BEI), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), Board
of Election Tellers (BET) as well as their support staff may likely
receive insurance coverage, on top of the usual honoraria given
election workers.
continued >>> |
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Updated list of
Senatorial candidates approved by Comelec |
October 30, 2012
As of October 30, 2012:
continued >>> |
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Comelec doubled OAV
registrants |
October 30, 2012
A year after the registration of overseas Filipinos
resumed for the May 2013 elections, the Commission on Elections and
the Department of Foreign Affairs nearly doubled the number of
registered overseas Filipino voters, to about 915,000.
continued >>> |
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A roundup of
regional election news |
October 30, 2012
Davao del Sur governor plead s to
have private armies in the province disbanded
Governor Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur revealed to the members of
the media that private armies with political backing is prevalent in
their province, thus placing the province under Comelec might prove
to be futile to maintain order. .
continued >>> |
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NAMFREL stalwart
Christian Monsod to receive international award for
electoral reforms in the Philippines |
October 30, 2012
Former Comelec Chairman and NAMFREL pioneer Christian
Monsod is this year's recipient of the Joe C. Baxter award. The
award, given by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
(IFES), is presented annually to a professional committed to the
principles of ownership, transparency and sustainability
continued >>> |
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An update on
NAMFREL's participation in the Medicine Monitoring
Project |
October 30, 2012
NAMFREL-MMP (Medicine Monitoring Project) continues to
implement monitoring in areas where the local chapters are also
performing voluntary work to promote good governance. Currently,
monitoring is limited only to public bidding. Outside Metro Manila,
14 hospitals and CHDs (Centers for Health Development) are currently
being monitored: 7 in Luzon, 2 in the Visayas, and 4 in Mindanao.
continued >>> |
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NAMFREL council
members participate in world assembly of democracy
experts and advocates |
Press Statement - October 24, 2012
Three members of NAMFREL's National Council participated
in the recently concluded Seventh Assembly of the World
Movement for Democracy in Lima, Peru from October 14-17.
The World Movement for Democracy is a non-govenment continued
>>> |
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Less than 8 months to
go before the 2013 elections |
October 1, 2012
Filing of COCs
All prospective candidates for the May 2013 national and
local elections only have this week (October 1 to 5, 8am to 5pm) to
file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs). According to
Comelec Resolution no. 9518 released on September
12, all registered political parties are also to submit to the
Commission on Election’s (Comelec) Law Department the names and
specimen signatures of their official party nominees not later than
October 1.
continued >>> |
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Comelec
disqualifies party list groups |
October 1, 2012
After a review by its First and Second Divisions to
eliminate dubious groups organized by politicians and
influential families, the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) disqualified last week 17 organizations that
sought to be accredited to participate in next year's
party list elections. The organizations deemed not
qualified for not meeting the standards for Party List
groups set forth by the Constitution and the Party List
Act are the following: Addicts and Alcoholics Carrying
the Message Association,
continued >>> |
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Smartmatic audit report of the July 24-25, 2012 Mock
Elections presented last September 5 to the House
Committee on Suffrage & Electoral Reform |
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A Review/ Analysis made by TransparentElections.org /
CSOs/ IT groups of Smartmatic-TIM Corp.'s "Mock
Elections Summary Report" on the Mock Elections
conducted on July 24-25, 2012 |
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The presentation was
disallowed last Sept 5. However, this same report was
presented to the Senate Oversight Committee on Suffrage
on September 10 |
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List of registered Party-list groups which have filed
manifestation of intent to participate for the May 2013
Elections with their nominees |
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List of pending Party-list groups/political parties
which have filed manifestation of intent to participate
for the May 2013 Elections with their nominees |
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Partnership for
Transparency Fund (PTF) holds Asia Regional Workshop on
Engaging Citizens to Fight Corruption |
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by Eric Jude O. Alvia, NAMFREL Secretary General |
January 24, 2012
As part of its partnership with the PTF through the
Medicine Monitoring Project, NAMFREL along with other
Philippine NGOs, participated in a regional peer
learning and knowledge sharing workshop on Engaging
Citizens Against Corruption in Asia. The event was
sponsored by PTF in collaboration with its Indian
partners the Public Affairs Center, CUTS-International
and Transparency International.
continued >>> |
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CGMA and Abalos: From
one case to another |
January 24, 2012
After her being on hospital arrest at the Veterans
Memorial Medical Center for electoral sabotage case in
relation to the 2007 elections, the lawyers of former
President and currently Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo have resigned upon request of their
client. Father and son lawyers Jose and Albert
Flaminiano and Laurence Arroyo filed before Pasay RTC
Judge Jesus Mupas a motion to withdraw as legal counsels
of Rep. Arroyo. Only Atty. Benjamin Santos remains as
counsel to represent Arroyo in the electoral sabotage
case. CGMA requested the three lawyers to concentrate on
the graft cases at the Sandiganbayan.
continued >>> |
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Second generation
politicians in Zambales' special election |
January 24, 2012
On February 4, 2012, more than 200,000 voters in the
province of Zambales will see no new faces in the
special election for the second congressional district.
The special election was set by Comelec upon the request
of the Provincial council of Zambales to replace Rep.
Antonio Diaz, who died last year.
continued >>> |
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Comelec initiates
steps to uphold transparency |
January 24, 2012
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc
promulgated Resolution no. 9307, otherwise known as the
“Code of Conduct Governing Procurement Activities of the
Commission on Elections”. The resolution emphasized
Comelec’s staunch commitment to uphold transparency and
efficiency in its procurement process.
continued >>> |
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Assailed Imus Mayor
appealed to Comelec, denied |
January 24, 2012
Former Imus, Cavite mayor Homer Saquilayan’s appeal for
a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Commission
on Elections (Comelec) was denied. Saquilayan filed for
a TRO after his appeal was rejected twice by the Imus
Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 22. The Comelec First
Division headed by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento denied
the petition.
continued >>> |
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More than 500
election cases face dismissal by Comelec by the end of
the year |
November 21, 2011
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) posted on their
website on November 9 a Notice to the Public signed by
Law Department director Atty. Esmeralda Ladra, which
states:
"Please be advised that the records of the cases listed
hereunder are no longer available at the Law Department.
Hence, all parties concerned and/or their counsel may
file their manifestation of intention to actively pursue
the case and submit copies of all their pleadings and
evidence filed with the Investigating Officer for
purposes of reconstitution on or before December 31,
2011 at the Investigations and Prosecution Division, Law
Department, Commission on Elections, 8th Floor, Palacio
del Gobernador Bldg., Intramuros, Manila from 8:00
o’clock in the morning to 5:00 o’clock in the
afternoon. continued
>>> |
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Comelec files
electoral sabotage case against Arroyo, et al |
November 21, 2011
Voting five out of seven, the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) filed on November 18 an electoral sabotage
case against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in
connection with the 2007 senatorial elections. Two
commissioners, Lucenito Tagle and Armando Velasco
abstained, as they said they had not yet read the
resolution.
continued >>> |
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Roundup of several
election cases in connection with the May 2010 elections |
November 21, 2011
Retrieval of Taguig ballots
ordered
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division set
anew the retrieval of ballot boxes in connection with
the election protest filed by losing candidate and
former Supreme Court Justice Dante Tinga of Taguig City.
The protest was filed against the winner, Mayor Ma.
Laarni Cayetano. In the resolution issued by the Comelec
First Division, the retrieval of the ballot boxes is set
from November 22 to November 25, 2011. The previous
dates set for the retrieval, through a resolution issued
on September 30, were October 27 and 28, and November 2
and 3. continued
>>> |
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Comelec employees
want raise to "fight temptations" |
November 21, 2011
In connection with a recent proposal by Bureau of
Customs chief Rufino Biazon for a “10-percent to
15-percent” raise in benefits for Customs employees to
help them avoid "everyday temptations," a group of
Comelec employees similarly want a wage increase.
Armando Mallorca, convener of the Comelec Wage Fight
Alliance (CWFA), said that a higher pay “may [also] help
Comelec employees fight temptations” especially during
election period.
continued >>> |
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Egypt to go to polls,
a revolution continues |
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by Paolo B. Maligaya, NAMFREL Senior
Operations Associate |
November 21, 2011
On November 28, Egypt will go to the polls to elect
members of the lower house of parliament, the first such
electoral exercise in the country since the end of the
30-year presidency of Hosni Mubarak, forced to resign in
February during the Egypt uprisings which started in
January 2011. The Egyptian revolution followed similar
protests in Tunisia; these uprisings as well as those in
neighboring countries similarly calling for the end of
the respective regimes in power, were later dubbed the
"Arab Spring."
continued >>> |
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Cases filed before the Comelec facing DISMISSAL |
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Arroyo and company
summoned by poll fraud probe team |
October 28, 2011
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was served two
subpoenas by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of
the ongoing investigation on the alleged fraud during
the 2004 and 2007 elections. The subpoenas were for the
election sabotage charges filed by Senator Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel III before the Commission on Elections
(Comelec), and for violating the Omnibus Election Code
as
recommended by the DOJ-Comelec joint panel that was
tasked to investigate the election fraud case. Together
with Arroyo, thirty-five (35) other people allegedly
involved in the poll irregularities were also summoned.
continued >>> |
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Stricter
penalties for poll offenses pushed |
October 28, 2011
A bill proposing stricter penalties for election
violations was approved on second reading by the House
of Representatives. The bill was authored by Reps. Rufus
Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro), Erico Aumentado (Bohol) and
Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Abante Mindanao party-list). The
bill also intends to amend Section 45 of Republic Act
8189, or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, and
portions of section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code of
the Philippines.
continued >>> |
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Medicine
Monitoring Project 2 concludes this month |
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by Edgar E. Camenting, NAMFREL Project
Coordinator |
October 28, 2011
Namfrel's Medicine Monitoring Project 2 ends this
October. The project was implemented in 28 Department of
Health (DOH) hospitals and Centers for Health
Development (CHDs) across the country with a commitment
of support from DOH. The implementation of the project
was supported through a grant from the Partnership for
Transparency Fund (PTF). The success of the project was
due to the participation of Namfrel chapters, partners
and individual volunteers in making the process of
procurement and contract implementation more transparent
and compliant to the provisions of the Government
Procurement Reform Act 9184.
continued >>> |
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West Papua election:
to be continued |
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by Paolo B. Maligaya, NAMFREL Senior
Operations Associate |
October 28, 2011
After being delayed three times, the West Papua
gubernatorial election finally took place on July 20,
2011. However, acting on a lawsuit filed by three losing
candidate-pairs in said election, and with voter turnout
of only 53% (with the lowest turnouts recorded in West
Papua's two major cities - Manokwari and Sorong, with
less than 40%), Indonesia's Constitutional Court
nullified the results of the election, ordering the
holding of another round of election, to be held on
November 9, 2011.
continued >>> |
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The Arab Spring
hurdles its first test in Tunisia |
October 28, 2011
Tunisia successfully held its Constituent Assembly
elections on October 24, its first after the Tunisian
Revolution in March; some say it was the country's first
free election since gaining independence in 1956.
Observers hailed the election as free and fair, peaceful
and orderly. The election commission that organized the
polls peg the voter turnout at 90% of the total 4.1
million registered voters. Campaign started on October
1, and Tunisians overseas got to vote on October 20 to
22 in their respective embassies and consulates to elect
18 members of the 217-seat Assembly.
continued >>> |
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Arroyo, Abalos et
al to be charged for electoral sabotage |
October 21, 2011
The joint fact-finding team of the Department of Justice
(DOJ) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
recommended on October 20 the filing of charges against
former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Comelec
chairman Benjamin Abalos, and several others, for
electoral sabotage in connection with the 2007
elections. In a media briefing, members of the
fact-finding team, tasked to gather and evaluate
evidence regarding the alleged cheating in the 2004 and
2007 elections, submitted their report to DOJ secretary
Leila De Lima, who said that the report is comprehensive
enough to convene the preliminary investigation
committee as early as October 24.
continued >>> |
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Supreme Court affirms
ARMM poll postponement |
October 21, 2011
Voting 8-7, the Supreme Court ruled on October
18 that the law synchronizing the elections in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with regular
elections, is constitutional. Republic Act 10153, passed
by Congress and signed into law by President Aquino in
June, allows the President to appoint officers-in-charge
(OICs) for the offices of the ARMM regional governor,
vice-governor, and members of the regional legislative
assembly, who "shall perform the functions pertaining to
the said offices until the officials duly elected in the
May 2013 elections shall have qualified and assumed
office."
continued >>> |
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Sen. Cayetano
hails NAMFREL volunteers’ sacrifices |
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by Nestor D. Malapajo, Jr., NAMFREL Volunteer |
October 21, 2011
During the joint hearing on October 18 of the Senate
Electoral Reforms Committee, headed by Sen. Aquilino
Pimentel III, and the Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by
Sen. Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Committee member Sen. Alan
Peter Cayetano hailed the sacrifices of NAMFREL
volunteers in the 2004 and 2007 elections, together with
other witnesses who allege that the elections were
rigged and fraudulent.
continued >>> |
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COA says
Smartmatic delivery charge excessive |
October 21, 2011
A Commission on Audit (COA) report released last week
showed that the company that supplied the Precinct Count
Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the 2010 elections was
paid excessively. Smartmatic International Corp. was
awarded a contract worth Php 526.62 million for the
delivery and transport of ballot boxes.
continued >>> |
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Atienza’s camp
still in hot pursuit |
October 21, 2011
After the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed
the protest filed by losing mayoral candidate Lito
Atienza of Manila, new issues were raised by his camp as
to the integrity of the counting machines used in the
2010 elections. These issues form part of their argument
in connection with the Comelec’s decision on the protest
filed against Manila mayor Alfredo Lim.
continued >>> |
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ASEAN Election
Management Bodies’ Forum |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia, NAMFREL Secretary General
October 21, 2011
The wave of democratization sweeping throughout several
regions has allowed the emergence of new democracies.
Elections have been recognized as an important process
in consolidating and sustaining these new democracies,
with electoral management bodies (EMBs) becoming the
prominent institution in respective societies. Given the
importance and these responsibilities, EMBs felt
increasing need to learn and share experiences and
knowledge among their peers to share views and discuss
common issues leading to the formation of the regional
EMB associations. These forums are now regarded as a
necessity to continue the improvement of electoral
processes and for strengthening democracy.
continued >>> |
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Overseas Filipino
Voters (OFV) Registration Kicks off with Training of
Diplomats and Improved Procedures |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia, NAMFREL Secretary General
October 21, 2011
In a move to solve recurring problems in the overseas
absentee voting (OAV) system, the two Congress
Committees on Suffrage and Electoral Reform and the
Commission on Elections held in September a
multi-sectoral forum to draw up plans to address the low
Overseas Filipino Voter (OFV) registration and declining
voter turnout.
continued >>> |
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Internet voting:
the Estonian system |
by Paolo B. Maligaya, NAMFREL Senior Operations
Associate
October 21, 2011
Out of the estimated 11 million overseas Filipino
workers, only half a million registered for the 2010
elections, and only about 26% of those who registered
actually cast their votes, a very low turnout indeed
considering that around 80% of Filipinos turned out to
vote in May 2010. Filipinos abroad decry the difficulty
of access to voting centers to register and vote, as
well as the difficulty of taking time out from work to
travel for these activities.
continued >>> |
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Comelec
Chairman Sixto Brillantes' reply to CSOs' Statement of
Concern on his appointment |
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Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes' Reply-Affidavit re
Director Rafanan's accusations |
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Arroyo linked to
2007 poll fraud |
October 10, 2011
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department
of Justice (DOJ) presented to the public on October 3 a
new set of witnesses in connection with the alleged
irregularities that marred the 2007 mid-term elections.
The witnesses served as election officers (EOs) and
provincial administrator from Maguindanao during the
2007 elections. Provincial administrator Norie Unas,
along with 14 EOs were presented to members of the
press. continued
>>> |
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Brillantes'
appointment confirmed |
October 10, 2011
The appointment of Sixto Brillantes, Jr. as Chairman of
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has finally been
confirmed during the fourth hearing on his confirmation
at the Commission on Appointments (CA) on October 5.
After Brillantes’ confirmation was endorsed by Sen. Jose
“Jinggoy” Estrada, co-chair of the Senate Committee on
Constitutional Commissions and Offices, no other members
of the CA opposed. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who had
been against Brillantes’ confirmation, chose to abstain
during the voting.
continued >>> |
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NDI/UNEAD Meeting |
October 10, 2011
The Global Network for Domestic Election Monitors
(GNDEM), through the initiative of the National
Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI),
saw the need for a “set of standards for self-awareness
and accountability among nonpartisan election monitoring
organizations.” Thus, a drafting committee was organized
sometime in May 2010 and met at Johannesburg, South
Africa to “define the activities and delineate ethical
obligations concerning impartiality, independence,
accuracy transparency, nondiscrimination, respect for
the rule of law and cooperation with other electoral
stakeholders….”
continued >>> |
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Golput (Boycott) |
by Paolo B. Maligaya,
NAMFREL Senior Operations Associate
October 10, 2011
Like in any other election I observed in the past, we
set out early. With the driver, interpreter, and a local
guide, we hit the road before 6:30am because we wanted
to observe the opening of polls prior to the prescribed
start of voting at 7am. In the Philippines, by 6:30am,
the people hired by candidates to distribute sample
ballots and campaign materials outside polling centers
(in complete disregard for election rules) would already
be out in full force. In countries like Nepal and
Afghanistan, the voters, mostly men, would already be
gathering outside polling places with glasses of tea in
hand, to await the start of voting.
continued >>> |
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Statement of Concern on the Confirmation of Atty. Sixto
Brillantes, Jr. as Chairman of Comelec |
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Ferdinand Rafanan's Affidavit opposing the CA
confirmation of Sixto Brillantes, Jr. |
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Atty. Magdamo and Sen. Pimentel's Motion for Grievance
filed before the Ombudsman in connection with the ballot
secrecy folder scam |
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High Court
suspends ARMM poll synchronization law |
September 13, 2011
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued on September 13 a
temporary restraining order (TRO) on the implementation
of RA 10153 or the law that allows the postponement of
the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) and its synchronization with the midterm
elections in 2013. The TRO will entail the deferment of
the appointment of ARMM OICs until the new officers are
elected.
continued >>> |
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WikiLeaks cables
raise questions about past elections |
September 13, 2011
Recent leaked cables released by anti-secrecy internet
group
WikiLeaks have
caused much discussion and controversy. The documents,
mainly confidential and top secret cables sent from the
U.S. embassy in Manila to Washington spanning several
years, quote not a few individuals including prominent
businessmen, and implicate prominent politicians in
alleged illegal activities pertaining to past Philippine
elections.
continued >>> |
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Rafanan no longer
Comelec Law Department Chief, BAC Chair |
by Edward C. Torcuato,
NAMFREL Assistant Project Coordinator
September 13, 2011
Former Comelec Law Department chair Atty. Ferdinand
Rafanan has been transferred to the Planning Department,
after also being removed by the Comelec from the joint
DOJ-Comelec committee investigating allegations of fraud
in the 2004 and 2007 elections. Comelec chairman Sixto
Brillantes, Jr. described Rafanan as "uncontrollable."
Prior to this development, Rafanan had been complaining
to the media about his transfer from the Law Department
to the ad hoc investigation panel. As head of the Law
Department, Rafanan spearheaded the investigation on the
overpriced secrecy folders in 2010.
continued >>> |
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Et Tu
“Hintuturo” – the Biometrics Voters Registration Law a
finger away from a clean voters list? (Part 2) |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia,
NAMFREL Secretary General
September 13, 2011
Currently, registered voters cannot be compelled to
undergo biometrics data capture (“finger printing”)
since no additional requirement for registration other
than those provided under the Voter Registration Act of
1996 (RA 8189) can be imposed. To deal with this
inadequacy and to cleanse the list of voters through the
use of an Automated Fingerprint Identification System
(AFIS), legislations were filed in Congress to amend RA
8189 to make biometric capture for all voter registrants
mandatory.
continued >>> |
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A challenge to
Filipinos |
September 13, 2011
In his lecture on September 2 entitled "Creating Paths
for Sustainable Citizen Vigilance In a Young Democracy,"
Ramon Magsaysay awardee Koul Panha of Cambodia stressed
the importance of citizens participation -- not just in
safeguarding the electoral process, but more
importantly, in monitoring the performance of elected
officials -- to ensure that democracy is alive and
working. Mr. Panha is the Executive Director of
Cambodia's Committee for Free and Fair Elections, a
non-partisan network of civil society organizations that
work for free and fair elections and good governance in
Cambodia.
continued >>> |
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Members of
investigation team to look into alleged poll fraud named |
August 27, 2011
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has named the members of
the fact-finding team that will assist the joint
DOJ-Comelec body that will investigate allegations of
fraud in connection with the 2004 and 2007 national
elections.
continued >>> |
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60 vie for
OIC-ARMM Governor |
by Nestor D. Malapajo,
Jr., NAMFREL volunteer
August 27, 2011
At least 60 people have either applied formally or have
been nominated to the position of Officer-In-Charge
Regional Governor for the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM). Other OIC positions available are those
of the Regional Vice- Governor (1) and the Regional
Legislative Assembly (RLA) composed of 24 members from
all the districts in the provinces of Basilain, Lanao
del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
continued >>> |
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Puentevella vs.
Leonardia recount underway |
August 27, 2011
On Monday, August 22, 2011, the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) started the manual revision of ballots
contested in relation to the protest filed by former
Bacolod City representative Monico Puentevella against
incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia. The two faced off
during the 2010 elections for the mayoralty position of
the city.
continued >>> |
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Freedom of
Information Act: A deliberate delay? |
by Edward C. Torcuato,
NAMFREL Assistant Project Coordinator
August 27, 2011
After it was drafted in 2008, House Bill 3732, otherwise
known as the “Freedom of Information Act of 2008,” is
yet to be ratified as the 14th congress under the
leadership of Speaker Prospero Nograles fell short by
seven (7) congressmen to complete the 135 votes needed.
Because of this failure, Speaker Nograles drew
criticisms from journalists.
continued >>> |
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Focus on West Papua
(Part 2) |
by Paolo B. Maligaya,
NAMFREL Senior Operations Associate
(Mr. Maligaya was in West Papua to observe the July 20,
2011 gubernatorial election for the Asian Network for
Free Elections - ANFREL)l
August 27, 2011
In 2003, the Indonesian half of New Guinea -- called
"Irian Jaya" (IRIAN said to mean "Ikut Republik
Indonesia Anti-Nederland"), and then officially called
"Papua" up to that point -- was divided into two
administrative provinces: Papua in the east, retaining
the city of Jayapura as capital, and West Papua, with
the city of Manokwari as capital.
continued >>> |
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Cambodian free
and fair election advocate to receive Ramon Magsaysay
Award |
August 27, 2011
Namfrel would like to congratulate Mr. Koul Panha,
Executive Director of Committee for Free Elections
(COMFREL) -- a non-partisan election monitoring
organization in Cambodia -- for being named as one of
the recipients of this year's prestigious Ramon
Magsaysay Awards. Mr. Panha is being recognized for "his
determined and courageous leadership of the sustained
campaign to build an enlightened, organized and vigilant
citizenry who will ensure fair and free elections -- as
well as demand accountable governance by their elected
officials -- in Cambodia's nascent democracy."
continued >>> |
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Push Electoral Reforms Now to Protect Votes in the
Future |
August 18, 2011
Recent events—the resignation of Senator Juan Miguel
Zubiri, the assumption to the Senate of Aquilino "Koko"
Pimentel III after winning his four-year-old
continued >>> |
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COMELEC urged to
purge voters’ list |
August 22, 2011
Malacañang and the House of Representatives are gearing
for and have made initial steps to cleanse the voters’
list in time for the 2013 elections.
The House of Representatives approved a bill (HB
3469, with Rep. Susan Yap as principal
author) seeking to have the voters’ list purged. Under
the bill, registered voters will just have to go to the
election officer in their city/municipality to validate
their registration. The voters’ biometrics will then be
captured using Data Capturing Machines (DCMs),after
which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will produce
the list with biometrics data as a security measure..
continued >>> |
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Et Tu “Hintuturo” – the
Biometrics Voters Registration Law a finger away from a
clean voters list? (Part 1) |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia,
NAMFREL Secretary General
August 22, 2011
Initiatives towards improving the integrity and quality
of the Philippines' voting registry run parallel to
efforts in automating Philippine elections. Using
fingerprint biometrics in building and sustaining a
cleansed voters' database has been around for many
years. The effort has spanned four administrations and
six national elections and is still currently being
pursued. continued >>> |
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Samar recall
elections likely to push through |
August 22, 2011
On August 5, 2011, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
signed a ruling dismissing the motion for
reconsideration filed by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan,
and her younger brother Vice Governor Stephen James Tan,
in connection with the recall petitions filed by
concerned registered voters in the province.
continued >>> |
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Namfrel's copies of
election returns help resolve protest cases |
by
Nestor Malapajo, Jr., NAMFREL volunteer
August 22, 2011
Four years after the 2007 elections, Atty. Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel III was proclaimed on August 11, 2011,
the winner for the 12th senatorial slot in the 2007
elections. The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) decision
was hastened with the resignation of Sen. Juan Miguel
Zubiri. Sen. Pimentel will serve Zubiri's unfinished
term of one year and two months.
continued >>> |
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Focus on West Papua
(Part 1) |
by
Paolo B. Maligaya, NAMFREL Senior Operations
Associate
(Mr. Maligaya was in West Papua to observe the July 20, 2011 gubernatorial
election for the Asian Network for Free Elections -
ANFREL)
August 22, 2011
Two time zones away from the Indonesian capital Jakarta,
Western Papua is the Indonesian half of the island of
New Guinea, the world's second largest island next to
Greenland. Rich in natural resources, most of western
Papua is composed of dense forests, with a high degree
of biodiversity, home to many endemic species like the
cenderawasih (bird of paradise) that Papua is known for.
continued >>> |
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Poll fraudsters
open an electoral "Pandora's box" |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia,
NAMFREL Secretary General
August 10, 2011
Like in the story of the mythical Greek character
Pandora - the first woman on earth - who unleashed evil
contained in a jar which was forbidden to be opened, so
too had scourge abound after revelations and renewed
accusations from former ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and
his cohort Maguindanao Province Election Supervisor
Atty. Lintang Bedol of poll fraud perpetrated during the
2004 and 2007 elections.
continued >>> |
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Cleansing the
Computerized Voters List (CVL) |
by Eric Jude O. Alvia,
NAMFREL Secretary General
August 10, 2011
A forum was conducted by the Comelec - Election and
Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) on “Cleansing the
Computerized Voters’ List” on July 11, 2011. Four major
concerns were cited by COMELEC on assessing the quality
of the voters registry. These are: 1) Multiple
registrants, 2) Deceased registered voters still in the
list, 3) Illegal registrants such as minors or
non/illegible-residents, and 4) Missing names in the
CVL.
continued >>> |
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Medicine
Monitoring Project Update |
As of July 2011
by Edgar E. Camenting, NAMFREL Project Coordinator
Ten months since the implementation of Medicine
Monitoring Project 2, NAMFREL was able to help ensure
transparency in the procurement and contract
implementation in selected DOH managed hospitals and
regional health offices. With active participation of
NAMFREL in the BAC procurement proceedings and in the
implementation of contract, irregularities were
minimized to make the procurement process more
transparent and acceptable.
continued >>> |
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Winning candidates
defy law |
July 8, 2011
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
(PCIJ) came out this week with an in-depth report on the
nonsubmission to the Comelec by candidates in the May
2010 elections of Statements of Election Contributions
and Expenditures (SECEs), as required by law. "If laws
on campaign finance were enforced to the letter, (many
winning candidates) should not be occupying their seats
right now," says PCIJ.
continued >>> |
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ARMM polls
postponement remains challenged |
July 8, 2011
The Supreme Court (SC) required the Office of the
President (OP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
to comment within 10 days on the oppositions challenging
Republic Act 10153, a law postponing the August 8, 2011
elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM). continued
>>> |
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|
Atienza urges for
continuation of ballot revision |
July 8, 2011
Losing Manila mayoralty candidate Lito Atienza asked the
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to continue revising
more ballots in connection with the protest he filed
against incumbent mayor Alfredo Lim. Atienza, through
his counsel Romulo Macalintal, said that the initial
revisions done earlier this year on contested ballots
from 200 precincts yielded substantial findings for them
to urge the COMELEC to continue with the revision of the
remaining 1,221 precincts.
continued >>> |
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ANFREL: Peaceful and
orderly Thai election |
July 8, 2011
The Asian Network for Free Elections, which deployed
more than 60 long- and short-term observers from 20
countries throughout Thailand to observe the July 3
parliamentary election, hailed the conduct of the
election as peaceful and orderly. In a statement, ANFREL
chair and Head of Mission Damaso G. Magbual said, “The
election period, in particular Election Day on July 3rd,
was managed well and without any major incident which
would call into question the election’s results.
continued >>> |
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Electoral violence in
Asia |
July 8, 2011
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has
recently released a report entitled "Understanding
Electoral Violence in Asia," focusing on the nature of
electoral violence in the region, as well as the factors
that prevent or perpetuate it. The report presents
analysis of case studies commissioned by UNDP in seven
countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal,
Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines.
continued >>> |
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President Aquino signs
ARMM poll postponement law; SC asked to nullify said law |
June 30, 2011
President Aquino signed on June 30 the law postponing
the election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM). Republic Act No. 10153 synchronizes the ARMM
elections with the national mid-term elections in May
2013.
continued >>> |
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Unused campaign contributions to be taxed |
June 30, 2011
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued on June 14
Revenue Regulation No. 7-2011, outlining the agency's
policy on unused campaign contributions. Though the BIR
upholds that campaign contributions are non-taxable
since "such contributions were given not for personal
expenditure/enrichment of the concerned candidate, but
for the purpose of utilizing such contributions for
his/her campaign," it makes an exception for campaign
contributions that were unused.
continued >>> |
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Elected lady
officials retain their posts |
June 30, 2011
After the Commission on Elections (Comelec) served a
Notice of Vacancy at the Lucena City hall, the Supreme
Court (SC) issued a status quo ante order stopping
Comelec to remove elected Barbara “Ruby” Talaga from the
mayoral post. The Comelec on June 28 then recalled its
earlier resolution ordering Talaga to vacate the post.
continued >>> |
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ANSA Global panel
meeting & Social Accountability (SAc) ICT Fiesta |
June 30, 2011
The first ANSA (Affiliated Network for Social
Accountability) Global advisory panel meeting was held
at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila from June 27
to 29. With the theme One ANSA – learning from the ANSA
Experience & Launching a Global Network, the three-day
event brought together global social accountability
stakeholders from government, civil society, and other
development partners. The gathering aimed to convene the
ANSA global panel, the equivalent of Executive Committee
to launch the ANSA Global hub; share lessons among
regional ANSAs; facilitate information exchange among
ANSAs and other regional partners; and discuss future
ANSA Global initiatives.
continued >>> |
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Law postponing ARMM
election delayed |
June 21, 2011
President Aquino has been accused of delaying the
signing into law of the bill postponing the election in
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),
originally scheduled for August 8. The President is set
to sign four bills into law on June 21, but not among
them is the law deferring the polls. In a press
briefing, Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang said
“We’re waiting for the right time to pass that.”
continued >>> |
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Anti-Political Dynasty bill finally tackled in Congress;
would cover all national and local elective positions |
June 21, 2011
Before Congress went on recess last week, the House
Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms conducted
for the first time on June 1 a hearing on the
anti-political dynasty bill filed by Rep. Teddy Casiño,
et al. House Bill 3413, filed in October 2010,
originally sought to only ban dynasties in the
provincial, city and municipal levels where they are
most commonly experienced. Casiño said when the bill was
formulated, political dynasties had yet to infiltrate
the party-list system.
continued >>> |
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COMELEC acts on
election protests in Sarangani and Pangasinan
|
June 21, 2011
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to act on
the election protest filed by a losing candidate for
mayor in Maasim, Sarangani. Mayoralty candidate Arturo
Lawa filed a petition before the Comelec alleging that
there was an error in the transmission of results during
the May 2010 elections. In his petition filed in May
2010, Lawa stated that the “Municipal Board of
Canvassers (MBOC) erroneously counted the votes cast
during the mock elections,” as the testing and sealing
of the counting machines, or PCOS (precinct count
optical scan) were conducted in the precinct where the
machine was deployed.
continued >>> |
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FIT4E Conference Resolution: "Support the Filipino IT
for Automated Elections" |
|
June 13, 2011 |
|
|
Comelec says ARMM
election will be manual |
June 2, 2011
During the May 31 hearing conducted by the Senate
Committee on Local Government on the ARMM election
postponement, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman
Sixto Brillantes, Jr. said that due to time constraints,
the Comelec cannot automate the ARMM election anymore,
and would have to use the manual process if the polls
are held in August as scheduled.
continued >>> |
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Bill
postponing ARMM election shelved, then retrieved |
June 2, 2011
After the Senate Committee on Local Government, upon
holding several consultations with stakeholders,
concluded that the bills seeking to postpone the ARMM
elections violate ARMM's autonomy, and after the
Committee had submitted its report that was unfavorable
to the proposed bills, the Senate, during its plenary on
May 31, sent the bills to its archives. However, just a
few minutes after the shelving, several Senators,
including Committee chair Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., moved
that the bills be revived and placed on the Senate
calendar to be deliberated on further.
continued
>>> |
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|
Special Election
in Ilocos Sur held |
June 2, 2011
On May 28, 2011, the Commission on Elections held a
special election in the province of Ilocos Sur. The
election was for the position vacated by former Rep.
Ronald Singson after he resigned to serve his sentence
of 18-month imprisonment for drug possession in Hong
Kong. Ronald’s younger brother, Ryan, won the elections
as the 1st district’s representative to the House of
Representatives with 71,995 votes, defeating his rival
Atty. Bertrand Baterina who garnered 30,445 votes.
Singson was proclaimed as the official winner by the
COMELEC in the morning of May 29, 2011.
continued >>> |
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Comelec wants to
create new precincts for PWDs and senior citizens |
June 2, 2011
In a House Committee on Suffrage hearing on June 1 to
discuss a bill mandating the use of ground-floor polling
places for persons with disabilities and senior
citizens, the Comelec, through Commissioners Rene
Sarmiento and Armando Velasco, recommended that separate
precincts be formed for said voters, to be referred to
as "highly-accessible polling places." The Comelec said
these polling places would have their own separate
voters lists, special Boards of Election Inspectors
(SBEIS), election paraphernalia, and PCOS machines
(should the election be automated using Smartmatic's
machines).
continued >>> |
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Namfrel FINAL Tally, Ilocos Sur Dist. 1 Special Election
May 28, 2011 |
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>>> NEXT PAGE |
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