It’s a 120- day period that will end on June 12.
Election being an important exercise in a democracy, the government wants to make sure that the environment is conducive to the people being able to choose their leaders freely and peacefully. Thus, there are do’s and don’ts in the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa 881) that law enforcers are implementing.
In six months, we will have the midterm national elections.
The May 13, 2013 elections will be the first national, automated, and synchronized (including the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao) elections under the Aquino administration.
VERA Files, a group composed of veteran journalists that produces in-depth articles on current issues and conducts training for journalists, last week held a training-seminar for 18 journalists from different parts of the country.
The training seminar was supported by the Embassy of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. Benoit Girouard, second secretary in the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Section of the Canadian Embassy, stressed the importance of a free, honest, responsible and independent media in a democracy.
Inamin ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. na palpak ang mga balota na ginawa ng Holy Family Printing Corp, ang pinanalo ng National Printing Office sa pag-imprenta ng 55 milyon na balota para sa 2013 na eleksyun.
Dapat kasi sa testing , isang libo na sample ballots ang gamitin. Noong unang test, Septyembre 12, 2012, walo lang ang dala ng Holy Family. Di ba dapat noon pa lang disqualified na sila dahil ibig sabihin nun, nag-bid sila na hindi pala sila handa gumawa ng trabaho na gusto nila kunin.
Hindi ito basta-basta lang trabaho. Balota ito para sa national na eleksyun. Demokrasya ng bansa ang nakasalalay dito.
Ngunit okay lang sa NPO. Sinubukan nila ang walong sample ballot na dala ng Holy Family. Anim sa walo ay hindi nagkasya sa makita na nabili na ng Comelec- ang Precinct Count Optical Scan machines galing sa Smartmatic.
Paano ngayun yun?
Sobra talaga ang bait ng NPO sa Holy Family . Binigyan ng isang buwan para ayusin ang kanilang trabaho.
Nagkaroon ng pangalawang test noong Oktubre 11, 2012. “Isang libong balota ang ginamit at perfect ayun sa report sa amin,” sabi ni Brillantes.
Para bang nakipagsabwatan si Teddy sa mga Marcos na siyang nagpahirap sa mga sinasabi nating “maka-kaliwa” o nga nationalist na katulad ni teddy at ang mga nauna sa kanya na katulad nina dating Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.
Ang litrato nay an ay galing sa isang post sa aking blog:
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2009/11/05/armida-and-son-carlitos-birthday-party/
Malisyoso naman ang ganung anggulo.
Ang artikulo ay tungkol sa birthday party nina Armida Siguion-Reyna, kilala sa kanyang programa sa television na “Aawitan Kita” at ang kanyang anak, director ng pelikula na si Carlitos, noong 2009.
Maraming dugo ang pinuhunan ng mga nauna sa atin para natin makamtan ang ating kalayaan at magkaroon ng demokrasya kung saan lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay ang karapatan, mayaman o mahirap, matalino man o bobo, maputi o maitim, bata o matanda, mataas man o punggok, mataba man o payat.
Ang ganung prinsipyo ay nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas.
Sa demokrasya, dapat lahat na mamayan ay may pantay-pantay na oportunidad mamuno ng bayan: Sabi sa Article II Section 26 ng ating Constitution: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
Binanggit ng mga gumawa ng Constitution ang “political dynasties” dahil alam nila na hindi tama na ang iilang pamilya lamang ang may control ng kapangyarihan sa bansa.
This will be the Philippines’ second national automated elections.
The 2010 election was not perfect but for a first-time experience, it was a huge success. In less than 24 hours, the nation knew the results of the presidential and vice-presidential race with almost 70 percent of the votes counted. A Social Weather Stations survey showed overwhelming satisfaction (three out of four Filipinos) over the results of the first automated nationwide elections in the country.
It is disturbing that instead of learning from good practices of the 2010 election and leveling up the preparations for the 2013 elections, some of those involved in the 2013 elections preparations are sliding back which could erase whatever gains that the country has gained in holding credible elections.
In the 2010 elections, the Commission on Elections used precinct count optical scan machines supplied by Smartmatic. The same 82,000 PCOS machines will be used in the 2013 elections. The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the P1.8 billion contract Comelec has entered with Smartmatic.
I wrote: “Hati raw ang Comelec sa isyu ng Akbayan at ang boto ni Grace Padaca, ang bagong Comelec commissioner, ang magdedesisyon kung lusot o tanggal ang Akbayan. Naloko na. (It has been reported that Comelec is deadlocked on the issue of Akbayan and the vote of Grace Padaca, the new commissioner, will decide whether Akbayan would be disqualified or not. Oh my God.)”
I made the comment based on at least three news reports quoting Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. : “Pinass on ko na lahat ng cases kay Padaca… We’re sending her the folders to break the tie.”
He said there are many Akbayan members who are holding high positions in the Aquino government because they supported Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 elections. Sorry na lang with Bayan Muna and its affiliate organizations like Anakbayan because they supported Manny Villar.
Yes, to the victors belong the spoils.
Former Isabela Governor and newly appointed commissioner of the Commission on Election posted the following reply to those who are criticizing her for accepting bail money from President Aquino. She cited this particular tweet: “ “Grace Padaca’s acceptance of bail money and refusing to subject herself to investigation speaks volumes of her character.”
Padaca’s reply:
“If i have done things the usual way, i would not have fought the dynasty in Isabela and win.
Thirty-two of those killed were media workers.
Next month, Nov. 29, the media community and those who value the role of a free press in democracy, will mark the third anniversary of the tragedy that earned for the Philippines the notorious tag of being one of the three most dangerous places in the world for journalists. We share the ignominious label with war-torn countries Iraq and Somalia.
Three years have passed and the victims have not yet been rendered justice.
And here’s Cojuangco, aunt of the President Aquino, lobbying for those involved in the massacre.