Kontra Daya post election report
COMELEC, Arroyo Administration Both Liable for Questionable May 14 Polls CLICK HERE

June 2, 2007 06:39 a.m.
Farcical and Fraudulent; The Kontra Daya Assessment of Elections in ARMM
CLICK HERE

May 29, 2007 10:39 a.m.
Election watchdog says 12-0 Win for TU in Lanao special polls impossible; warns vs. manipulations

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – Election watchdog Kontra Daya said it is "impossible" and "incredible" for Team Unity candidates to win 12-0 in the Lanao del Sur special polls.

Kontra Daya sent a team to observe the special polls in this province.

In precinct number 0010-A, the counting area in one of the classrooms in Amai Pak Pak Central Elementary School in this city where votes for Barangay Kadigilan, Lumbayanage town in Lanao del Sur province were being counted, the ballots did not contain votes for senators. With this predicament, the BEIs and poll watchers decided to place the tally sheets for national positions at the back of the classroom. Later, the tally sheets were used as table cloth.

In some other precincts, the BEIs deliberately did not read votes cast for some senatorial candidates. In other precincts were BEIs read the votes for senators, tally sheets showed that Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Koko Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes were leading the senatorial race. The only TU candidate who got as many votes as the GO candidates was Jamalul T. Kiram, a sultanate from the island-province of Sulu.

Emmi de Jesus, Kontra Daya spokesperson for its Lanao del Sur special elections team, said this is also a "cause of alarm" as the empty tally sheets "might be used to pad votes for TU candidates who are tailing the senatorial race."

"This practice, whether deliberate or not, is very susceptible to machinations by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other parties in interest," de Jesus said.

De Jesus said their team also observed numerous irregularities in the conduct of the special polls here. In Masiu town, an hour ride from this city, de Jesus said they talked to voters who were not marked with indelible ink on their fingers after voting. When asked why, the voters casually told the Kontra Daya members, "para makaboto uli kami." (to vote again)

There was also unreasonable and unexplained delay of the counting of votes in public schools in this city despite the presence of the BEIs and the poll watchers. In several counting areas, poll watchers were unreasonably barred from entering, de Jesus said.#


May 28, 2007 01:39 p.m.
Witness on Maguindanao fraud comes out ; 190 genuine ERs disregarded

The Party-List-Genuine Opposition Task Force Poll Watch has uncovered damning evidence proving that the Commission on Elections did not canvass genuine election returns (ERs) in Maguindanao.

A Maguindanao Board of Election Inspector, Faizal Kalantungan, has executed an affidavit attesting to the fact that 190 ERs and 38 ballot boxes remain uncanvassed in Pagalungan, Maguindanao.

Kalantungan's affidavit is the first legally binding evidence that proves that no canvassing was conducted in several towns in Maguindanao.

"Up to now, the authorized Comelec officer has yet to collect the election returns and the 38 ballot boxes," says Kalantungan in an affidavit signed yesterday, May 24, 2007.

"There are still 190 ERs in the custody of BEIs, including mine, and a total of 38 ballot boxes inside the Pagalungan municipal hall that remain uncanvassed," his affidavit stated.

According to Zaynab Ampatuan, head of GO-PL fact-finding team that investigated the fraud in Maguindanao, the 190 uncanvassed ERs contained all the votes in eight (8) of twelve (12) barangays in the said municipality.

"It is highly irregular that the Provincial Board of Canvassers already finished canvassing 'votes' in Maguindanao while the ERs remain in the custody of poll officers at the municipal level," says Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.

"The Maguindanao Certificate of Canvass was already submitted for canvassing to the National Board of Canvassers in PICC. But the genuine ERs reflecting the votes of the electorate were still uncanvassed. This is a clear case of election sabotage, a criminal and election offense" Ocampo stressed.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano charged that the ERs and COCs canvassed in Sharif Aguak are "fabricated and therefore not reflective of the Maguindanao electorate's will."

Representatives Ocampo and Mariano called on the Comelec to declare immediately a failure of elections in Maguindanao. GO lawyer Sixto Brillantes and Bayan Muna general counsel Neri Colmenares are set to raise the said issue to the National Board of Canvassers. #
Click here for photos

May 24, 2007 11:35 p.m.
Village leader in Maguindanao bares governor's schemes in favor of TU

A barangay (village) captain in Maguindanao province revealed how they were instructed by Governor Andal Ampatuan to ensure victory for Team Unity (TU) senatorial bets.

In an interview with the delegates of the People's International Observers Mission (IOM), the barangay captain who requested anonimity for security reasons, said that in the first week of May, Ampatuan gathered all the barangay captains and distributed sample ballots of Team Unity candidates. Ampatuan, the local leader said, instructed them and their constituents to vote straight for the government slate.

The source said Ampatuan warned them against breaking the "rule" or else their lives will be at risk. The local leader said, "If someone voted for a candidate not in the sample ballot, they can trace it."

The ballot boxes were brought directly to the province, the source said. He said that Ampatuan himself observed the entire proceedings.

Ampatuan is a close ally of Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In the 2004 presidential election, Arroyo won most of the votes in Maguindanao. In one town, her rivals did not get even a single vote.

May 22, 2007 12:02 p.m.
Dagdag-bawas noted in Shariff Kabunsuan, Cotabato

Various affidavits from six pollwatchers of Suara Bangsamoro party-list revealed operations dagdag-bawas (vote padding, vote shaving) in the provinces of Shariff Kabunsuan and Cotabato in Mindanao.

Cited were precinct number 168-A, 160A-161A in Brgy. Makir and precinct Number 143-A, 140-B in Brgy. Kurintem, municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan.

Dagdag-bawas was also executed at the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Cotabato City canvassing area.

The witnesses said that votes for Suara Bangsamoro were erased and votes for Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF) and Assalam party-lists were padded.

The ALIF was implicated in the 2004 ?Hello Garci? scandal.
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) chronicled in its blog:

The man asks, "Kailan mag-ano 'yung sa party list" which in context is essentially a question about the schedule of manipulation. When will the results in the ARMM be fixed, that is what the man is asking.
The subject of the wiretaps - Garci, to most Filipinos - gives what looks like a vague answer ("Ina-ano ko pa"). But then come the specifics. He says he would like to start with the party-list group ALIF, but he also expresses his preference to fix the votes of other favored party-list groups in batches.

May 21, 2007 06:10 p.m.
Canvassing sa Lanao, Binomba!

Hinagisan ng bomba ng mga di kilalang suspek ang canvassing na isinasagawa sa bayan ng Balabagan sa Lanao del Sur, May 21, bandang ala-una ng hapon. Sugatan ang isang COMELEC official habang wala namang naiulat na namatay.

Ayon sa mga ulat,di pa nagsisimula ang canvassing nang mayroong biglang maghagis ng bomba sa canvassing area.

Hinala ng Kontra Daya na maliban sa lokal na tunggalian, maaaring isinagawa ang pambobomba upang ibinbin ang canvassing sa naturang lugar. Kilala ang Lanao del Sur sa isa sa mga lugar ng operasyon ng pandaraya ng administrayong Arroyo noong 2004.

May 21, 2007 05:15 p.m.
Kontra Daya received a copy of this report sent by the Task Force Pollwatch of party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan and Suara Bangsa Moro.

INITIAL AND PARTIAL REPORT
INCIDENCE OF FRAUD AND VIOLENCE
May 14-May 16, 2007

A. TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES OF FRAUD, HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE reported to Party List TASK FORCE POLLWATCH (TFPW) Monitoring,

Documentation and Quick Reaction (MDQ) Desk: 156
Reports of Field Coordinators and Contacts: 138
Reports of regional and PL centers: 3
Total Number of Cases monitored from other sources: 15

Major Cases affecting Progressive Party Lists and GO Senatorial Candidates:
Massive and various forms of fraud were reported in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. The fraud was characterized by ballot box switching and padding of votes in favor of TU candidates and administration party list groups, harassment by militaryb, police and armed goons and the barring of entry of Pls/Liberal Party/Genuine Opposition watchers to the municipal canvassing center.

Reported votes of GO senatorial candidates at the precinct level, averaging 8,000 was cut down to less than 4,000. The more than 5,000 votes of Suara was slashed to less than 2,000. Formal complaints to COMELEC municipal, provincial, and national offices were filed by a mayoral candidate opposing the administration candidate.
Party List (PL) sheets were removed from several Election Returns (ERs) in Malabang, Lanoa del Sur. This form of fraud duplicated in all towns in the province, would mean massive tampering of results in the PL election in favor of government-sponsored partly list groups.

Vote for Suara and GO senatorial candidates were not read or written in ERs in several precincts in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. Votes of Alyansa ng Indiginong Filipino controlled by the Tomawis, pro-administration political clan were padded.

In the Certificate of Canvass (COC) posted in San Luis, Pampanga canvassing center, Bayan Muna votes were reduced to zero. It was only when the watchers of Fr. Ed Panlilio who voted for Bayan Muna exposed and protested the said fraud that the Board of Canvassers restored and listed Bayan Muna votes.

Party List sheets in the Voters Secrecy folder were missing. This form of fraud is reported in several precincts in La Union, Laguna, Manila, Cotabato and North Cotabato.

Several incidents of invalidation of votes for Cayetano and Allan are reported in the TFPW, indicating massive loss of votes for GO candidate Allan “Peter” Cayetano.
Blackout transpired in Botolan, Zambales, Olongapo City and Pampanga during the counting and canvassing of votes. After the blackout incidents, it was observed that TU and administration candidates votes were padded.

Senatorial and party lists votes were and are being counted last or not counted at all in Matanog, Sharif Kabunsuan province.

Party list votes were not being counted in the canvassing of votes in several towns in Isabela, specifically Ilagan, Roxas, Echague, Cordon, Alicia, Tumauini, Cayan in violation of amended election law. This might may lead to tampering of result, massive lost of votes for opposition party list and in favor of administration party list candidates.

Party-list/LP/GO watchers were barred from entering pollwatch and canvassing areas in Quezon City, Manila, Taguig, Sorsogon, Batangas, La Union and Cotabato. Comelec officials refused the entry of legitimate watchers making them unable to cover even half the number of the canvassing table, reception custody group and tabulation teams. Forms of Manifest error and fraud were recorded and checked in these areas.

Dagdag Bawas in favor of administration and TU candidates occurred at several precincts and canvassing centers in Guinobatan, Albay; Washington, and Legaspi City.

Election Returns were sold in Mindanao especially in Lanoa del Sur and ARMM areas through political clans.

Only one, two or three copies of ER instead of seven were made available in several precincts in Mindanao, as in Datu Odin Sinsuat municipality of Sharif Kabunsuan province.

May 21, 2007 05:13 p.m.
Two Kabataan Party-list members abducted, slain

Members of Kabataan party-list Roberto Bagasbas Jr., 27 and Ronilo Brezuela, 16 were abducted by suspected soldiers on May 15.

The two were on their way home after delivering food to Kabataan Party-list volunteers when they were abducted by uniformed men near the Brgy. Old Camp Capalong polling place.

They next day, May 16, they were found dead along the boundaries of Brgys. Mataqui and Catabaguangan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte.

The AFP in Bicol quickly attributed their deaths to an alleged encounter between the New Peoples' Army (AFP) and the military in the province.

Raymond Palatino, Kabataan national president and first nominee, said, "We do not believe it for one minute and we are disgusted by this obvious attempt by the military to cover-up. This malicious and false finger-pointing is similar to the school-burning incident in Batangas which was reportedly carried out by NPA rebels but turned out to be
the doings of none other than police forces.”

May 21, 2007 04:53 p.m.
Isabela elections heat up

Kontra Daya received reports from Citizens’ Alliance for Reform in the Elections-Isabela (CARE-ISABELA) that gubernatorial candidate Benjamin Dy allegedly orchestrated several attacks against incumbent Governor Grace Padaca.

On May 14, CARE-Isabela noted that hired lawyers and representatives from the Ben Dy camp managed to collect the majority of the Election Returns (ERs) at the precinct level in most barangays by wearing fake Liberal Party (LP) identification cards (IDs). Padaca is the duly authorized representative of LP in the province.

At the Ilagan Municipal Hall, lawyers of Dy deliberately delayed the canvassing by making a number of protests from May 16 to May 18. Several ERs in favor of Padaca were deferred by the electoral board in reaction to the protests raised by Dy’s lawyers. Suspiciously however, even though the ERs were deferred, votes for local and national candidates and party lists were still read, excluding the votes for the gubernatorial position. The bases used were missing paperseals, thumbmarks, authorization signatures, and allegations of manufactured ERs. Protests to reject two ERs in favor of Dy bearing the same bases for deferring were however withdrawn.

Despite the tactics employed by the Dy camp, Padaca still leads the gubernatorial race by a margin of about 20,000 as of May 17, according to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

CARE-Isabela also reported the military presence in different parts of the province, especially during the May 14 elections.

Elements of the Regional Mobile Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were deployed inside and around polling precincts in Cauayan, San Mariano, Ilagan, and Angadanan. In Echague, West Central School, several policemen in white shirts were spotted inside the school grounds. Two armed policemen identified as Sanchez and Verez were doing their own tally of votes while the counting is done inside one of the precincts.

On May 15, soldiers in Cauayan and Echague were preventing the poll watchers of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Liberal Party who support Gov. Padaca from entering the canvassing area. In Alicia, a platoon of armed military elements was deployed to guard the gates of the municipal hall and the door of the canvassing room. Armored personal carriers (APC) were also seen in the municipal halls of San Mariano and Gamu. On May 17, an APC tailed the convoy transporting the ERs from Cabagan to the Isabela Capitol.

On May 16, members of the monitoring team CARE-Isabela were harassed and prevented from entering the canvassing area by two RMG personnel in Alicia identified as Acuba and Agustin.

The Omnibus Election Code Resolution No. 7859 Article 20 prohibits any officers and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), CAFGU, employee of any government agencies, councils or bureaus inside the canvassing areas.

May 19, 2007 03:15 p.m.
SUMMARY OF CASES on Election Fraud and Violence by Military and PNP
CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT

May 17, 2007 04:51 a.m.
Lanao del Sur elections neither peaceful nor democratic, international observers say

WE, members and participants of the People’s International Observers’ Mission (IOM) express shock and dismay at the brazen and numerous violations of election laws we witnessed in Lanao del Sur on May 14 and 15. We also grieve that the people of the province were again denied peaceful and credible elections by both the Commission on Elections (and its instrumentalities) and the opposing political interests and clans of Lanao del Sur.

We visited polling precincts and ballot-counting venues. We interviewed voters, Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) members, poll watchers, local media personnel, Namfrel and PPCRV officers and volunteers, the Philippine National Police provincial headquarters, and the Provincial Election Supervisor himself. We secured signed testimonies from witnesses, documents from offices, and we interviewed local experts on local culture and politics to gain learned perspectives on what we observed.

Despite report of peaceful and clean elections in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur, it is obvious to us based on what heard and saw, that the 2007 national and local elections in Lanao del Sur were neither peaceful, nor a democratic exercise.

Failure of elections

The IOM Lanao del Sur Team received and verified reports of Failure of Elections in 13 of the province’s 39 municipalities. These failures were either formally declared by the poll body or the elections simply did not happen because of the following reasons:

a. Absence of Election Officers (EOs) at their posts to preside over the distribution of campaign paraphernalia, the conduct of elections or to decide on contentious issues that needed action;
b. Municipal EOs were shuffled and changed by the Provincial Election Supervisor several times, with some reportedly being recalled to the provincial Comelec office on election date itself;
c. Violence, particularly killings, shootings and burnings that endangered the voters. These incidents caused widespread fear among the people and even greater animosity between opposing clans and groups; and
d. Lack of or missing election paraphernalia.

In one case, because of the absence of the Municipal EO, the military took over the decision-making process, in clear violation of laws dictating their impartiality and non-involvement in the actual conduct of the elections.

A third of the province failed to hold elections, the worst in the country even if compared with past elections. This will have a bearing on both local and national election results, again raising the questions vividly pictured by the “Hello Garci” scandal and the Gen. Gudani revelations.

Rampant violation of election laws

Our Team observed rampant vote-buying inside precincts. Peso bills were stapled on sample ballots and campaign paraphernalia of certain candidates. Precinct ball pens even sported candidates’ names, violating the ban on election day campaigning. Poll watchers sat beside voters dictating the names to be written on the ballots and passing lists of candidate through window grills. They also had virtual run of the polling precincts, dictating who could come in or go out the doors. The people were denied their right to freely choose their candidates.

Many voters cast ballots several times. Minors voted, instigated by supporters of candidates. “Indelible” ink easily washed off with soap and water. We also saw and interviewed many disenfranchised voters.

BEIs appeared powerless to stop these violations. Comelec clearly failed to ensure the orderly conduct of elections. No voters’ lists were posted outside classrooms; Ballot Secrecy Folders with attached lists of candidates in national and local positions were absent.

Members of the Philippine National Police-Regional Special Action Force with high-powered guns caused fear among members of our delegation. While were told by some that the elections were peaceful, the mere presence of these armed men indicates otherwise. There can be no peaceful elections while armed personnel were inside polling places. The police also dictated on the BEIs on their precincts’ closing time.

Even with Comelec-issued media IDs on prominent display, signed by Chairperson Benjamin Abalos himself, our media team was harassed and confronted by partisans outside the polling precincts. Our video camera was even hit by a congressional candidate’s supporter to prevent us from taking shots of the illegal and immoral proceedings. It was only our cameras that seemed to deter the violations taking place.

Other distressing sights

Conditions BEI members were forced to endure while counting votes shocked and distressed foreign delegates of our IOM Team. Teachers were forced to squat on wet grounds with no roofs over their heads at the People’s Park grounds, one of several centralized venues for vote-counting in the city. The venues were crowded, noisy, dark, humid and absolutely chaotic. BEIs only had Comelec-provided candles to read the ballots with and make appropriate marks on tally sheets. Tally sheets were also accessible to just about anybody. These conditions allow honest mistakes or cheating to be committed with impunity casting serious doubts on the credibility of the process.

We found out later that vote-counting in past elections were held inside the Mindanao State University campus where each precinct were given classrooms of their own with adequate lighting and protection from the elements. We find no reason why Comelec did not use the same in favor of the woefully inadequate ones used this year. Absolutely no one deserves to labor under such conditions. This country has had many elections in the past and knew about the 2007 polls years before. Our hearts go out to all the teachers and honest poll workers who struggled with gargantuan tasks they were ordered to perform under near impossible conditions and tremendous pressures.

Conclusion

Before coming to the Philippines, international delegates of the mission believed to the Philippines to be a democratic country. But after what we witnessed in the conduct of elections in Marawi City, we now question our previous impressions. We defer to the entire International Observers’ Mission when it convenes in Manila tomorrow to come out with the overall analysis, observations and, if possible, recommendations on the conduct of this year’s elections in the entire country. We make it clear this statement is based on our direct observations of the elections in Lanao del Sur, interviews with stakeholders and experts, and initial analyses of them.

What were very obvious and undeniable was that the government failed to redeem itself from the wide belief that it benefited from these illegal practices in Lanao del Sur in particular and the entire Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in general in 2004. And the Comelec, by sins of commission and omission, presided yet again over abominably chaotic elections. Democracy was not served and the people’s deepest aspirations were not advanced in these elections.

May 16, 2007 11:26 a.m.
Red-baiting vs certain party-lists noted

CEBU – In Asturias, northwestern coast of Cebu, slogans demonizing certain party-lists were painted on the walls of polling centers. At the entrance of Tubigagmanok Elementary School and Owak Elementary School, voters were greeted with the slogan, “Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, NPA, Terorista.”

NEGROS ORIENTAL – Posters that read, “IBOTO party list ng Masa: Bayan Muna, Kabataan, Gabriela, Anakpawis.” Signed: “NPA” were the polling centers in Brgy. Tuoy, Himalayan City.

BOHOL - In Poblacion, Alicia, motorcyle-riding men distributed leaflets branding certain party-list groups as fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA).

BAGUIO – The words “Komunismo, Satanismo” were written over names of party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan and Suara Bangsa Moro.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its allied groups such as Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) were the only groups who usually tag these party-list groups as NPA fronts.

May 16, 2007 08:22 a.m.
Electoral Fraud Heats Up in Bulacan

Trouble continues to simmer in Meycauayan. A report reached Kontra-Daya that Brgy. Captain Legaspi of Brgy. Lipunan was illegaly campaigning for mayoral candidate Joan Alarilla, wife of incumbent Mayor Eduardo Alarilla. Legaspi, an Alarilla loyalist, allegedly warned media personnel not to enter the precincts.

Poll watchers were shocked to see that the result of the tallying was a zero vote for the opponent of Joan Alarilla. Brgy. Lipunan was widely believed to be a bailiwick of the opposition. A rumor even spread that Legaspi was threatening to dump those who would disobey him into the river.

May 16, 2007 08:21 a.m.
Electoral Indiscretions in Bulacan

MEYCAUAYAN — A report reached Kontra-Daya that incumbent Mayor Eduardo Alarilla was present in the Meycauayan City Hall during the canvassing of votes. Voters complained because his wife, Joan Alarilla, is currently running for mayor, which indicated a conflict of interest.

ANGAT — Witnesses claimed that a relative of incumbent Mayor Evelyn Paulino entered a polling precinct in Brgy. Camachile, accompanied by armed men and soldiers. They ordered the teachers and poll watchers present to leave the precinct while the counting was in progress.

Mayor Paulino is running for reelection.

Kontra-Daya also received reports that around a hundred members of the ethnic tribe Dumagat were not allowed to vote in Bulacan, though they were registered voters.

May 16, 2007 08:20 a.m.
Irregularities in Bataan

The electricity died in Bagac Municipal Hall at around 11:30 pm of May 15, according to reports that reached Kontra-Daya. The incident was notable because the sudden brownout affected only the municipal hall, leaving the surrounding areas with electricity.

This incident occurred right after a relative of reelectionist Mayor Armando Wawaw allegedly entered the municipal hall without permission. The ballots had just been transferred, purportedly at the order of Mayor Wawaw, from the precincts, even before the counting by the teachers was finished.

May 15, 2007 05:27 p.m.
N. Ecija folks forced to vote for Palparan party-list

Konta Daya received reports from the Peoples’ International Observer Mission-Nueva Ecija team that voters were forced to vote for Bantay party list whose first nominee is Retired Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.

Rev. Larry Emery, spokesperson of the team, said that the voters they interviewed in Barangay Yuson, Guimba town voted for Bantay party because they said that is what the military wanted. Others opted not to vote for any party list organization to "keep out of harm's way."

Barangay Yuson is considered as a stronghold of Anak Pawis, Bayan Muna and other progressive party list groups. There are 388 registered voters in three precincts in Barangay Yuson.

In Barangay Manggang Marikit of the same town, Maximo Daileg, a barangay official told the IOM delegates that more than 100 people were summoned to the village hall by soldiers where they were interrogated and threatened. The residents were told not to support the Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis and Gabriela parties.

In this year's elections, the barangay council agreed not to support Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis and Gabriela. Daileg told the mission they voted for the Bantay party against their will.

The barangays experienced severe militarization from 2005 to the present. The human rights violations intensified when Gen. Palparan was transferred to Central Luzon in September 2005.

The mission also talked with a former victim of torture who said that he voted for Bantay party because that was what the soldiers wanted.

"Militarization and human rights violations have spawned a new type of disenfranchisement that is borne out of fear and terror," Emery said.

May 15, 2007 05:27 p.m.
Kontra Daya convenors barred from observing canvassing of votes

Two convenors of election watchdog Kontra Daya were barred from observing the canvassing of votes in Quezon City.

Carol Araullo and Eleanor Jara, both medical doctors, were prevented by the security guards and police forces from entering the Quezon City Hall, around 11, May 15.

Section 10 of the Comelec Resolution 7859 dated April 17, 2007 General Instructions for the Board of Canvassers states that the proceedings of the Board shall be open and public.

The Kontra Daya convenors were told to go the Comelec office within the compound to talk to its head, Atty. Dina Valencia. At the Comelec office, an employee named Ma. Teresa Canzon told the two doctors that they can write a letter of request but they would not be able to get identification cards until these were signed by the Comelec head.

Araullo and Jara went back to the session hall to see the Comelec head. They were asked to log in their names and were then escorted by the security guards to the canvassing area. The two sent a note to Valencia stating the circumstances and their commentary but they did not get any response.

Jara said, “This incident only proves that it is not easy for ordinary citizens to be able to watch these electoral proceedings even though it is their right to do so."

May 15, 2007 04:43 p.m.
Moro group calls for quick COMELEC action on failure of elections in Mindanao towns

Suara Bangsamoro Party-list, a candidate for this year’s elections, urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to make the necessary actions to resolve the failure of elections in several Mindanao areas.

“The failure of elections in these areas has again stirred further distrust on the efficiency and integrity of the Philippine electoral process. Obviously, there were no pre-emptive measures taken by the COMELEC to prevent this from happening. At this stage, the COMELEC must prove to the Moro and Filipino electorate that it still has any moral conscience left by not allowing the repeat of the 2004 electoral fraud which happened greatly in Lanao,” Zaynab Ampatuan, national chairperson and first nominee said.

A high trend of violence has deterred the conduct of elections yesterday in ten Lanao areas, two Basilan towns, and one barangay in Barira, Shariff Kabunsuan.

Ampatuan said the conduct of elections was already as “violent and as dirty” as it was, without taking account yet of the “dagdag-bawas” that will “most probably” occur in these areas which the COMELEC has considered crucial in deciding the senatorial race.

SUARA echoed the general sentiment that Lanao Del Sur will once again play a significant role in the repeat of the 2004 electoral fraud.

“At the expense of the Moro people, the Arroyo clique may indeed portray that “ Mindanao is an administration country” by manipulating the more than 100,000 votes from these areas. This is yet again a blatant undermining of the Bangsamoro’s right and mandate,” Ampatuan said.

Ampatuan also decried the massive electoral fraud and election-related violence that has been prevalent in Mindanao months before the actual conduct of elections.

SUARA watchers all over Mindanao have reported irregularities and violations of the election code.
Today SUARA canvassers, Sahara Abdul, Samsida Maradi, and Dimangki Tangkulo were not allowed entry by military elements in provincial canvass areas in Tubod Lanao Del Norte.

SUARA also received reports that four ballot boxes have been seized in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao.

A call for continuing vigilance to ensure that the people’s genuine mandate prevails has been expressed by the Moro group.

May 15, 2007 03:47 p.m.
Soldiers seen inside polling precincts

Soldiers were seen inside polling precincts in Negros Oriental.
Kontra Daya received reports that elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion entered and stayed inside the polling center of Sitio Calabaclabacan, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental around 8 p.m. yesterday.
Meanwhile, a drunken soldier in civilian clothes brandished his high-powered rifle inside the Perelos Elementary School past midnight of May 15. After over an hour, he was escorted out of the polling center by the police.

May 15, 2007 02:22 p.m.
Policemen doing poll watching in Tondo?

Last May 14, at around 5pm, two policemen in uniform identified by their last names, Diaz and Espiritu, started entering the premises of Magat Salamat Elementary School and started listing down partial election results. They later returned to get results from the Election Returns.

When the election officers confronted them, the said police officers admitted they were ordered to do what they did. They, however, refused to identify who gave them the orders.

Kontra Daya finds this practice highly irregular. Are the policemen accredited poll watchers now? Who gave them orders to monitor election results at the precinct level?

May 15, 2007 02:12 p.m.
Mother uses palm as props because no desks, chairs present in school

Kontra Daya received an e-mail complaint from Malolos City at 12:35nn today. Sender said her name was not in the list of voters yesterday, but that she was registered in that precinct. The precinct also did not have decent armchairs and folders to cover ballots. Her mom only wrote on the ballet using her palm as table, while watchers covered the ballots to replace folders. She said she felt like voters were deprived of their right to privacy because of this.

May 15, 2007 02:02 p.m.
Day after polls, Kontra Daya calls on increased public vigilance

The watchdog group Kontra Daya called on the public to exercise greater vigilance in the next few days as the canvassing of polls begin. The group said that ?dark forces are working overtime to once again subvert the people's vote.

"The elections have been marred by violence, confusion and chaos. These are precisely the conditions favorable for wholesale electoral fraud. Kontra Daya is particularly worried about cases of ballot snatching and failure of elections that have happened in several provinces throughout the country," said Kontra Daya Convenor Fr. Joe Dizon.

"What we are witnessing are incidents reminiscent of the snap elections under the Marcos dictatorship. Intimidation of election officials and poll watchers are being done at the precinct level. Armed goons are snatching ballot boxes or terrorizing election officials such that no elections will take place. This is the type of scenario that the cheating operators thrive on. The cheaters are going to take advantage of the general confusion and fear among voters and local election officials," Dizon added.

News reports indicate that there were failures of election in at least 14 towns in Lanao del Sur where the total voters affected would reach 100,000. Violence or threats of violence were the reasons cited for the stopping of the polls.

"The last thing we want to see now is a repeat of the 2004 fraud operations in Mindanao which would be crucial in influencing the outcome of the national elections. It is a known fact that characters associated with the Garci recordings, such as incumbent ARMM election officer Rey Sumalipao, are now occupying more strategic positions in Mindanao," Dizon said.

Kontra Daya also cautioned other election watchdogs from prematurely absolving the Comelec and the Arroyo government from any liability with regards to the problems in the recently concluded polls.

"We cannot just be giving our government agencies pats on the back. As expected, the government refuses to accept the gravity of the problems on election day. The PPCRV and Namfrel should also be circumspect in giving the elections their seal of approval," Dizon said.

May 15, 2007 12:59 p.m.
Attempt to switch ballots in Subic foiled

Subic, Olongapo -- A driver (name not known yet) was caught taking ballot boxes into yellow jeep bound from Convention Center to City Hall. Opposition vice mayoralty candidate Noel Atienza caught him. The driver admitted it was for ballot-switching. As soon as word of attempt spread, church people swarmed to convention center and surrounded it to prevent fraud attempts.

Supposed mastermind, a certain Lorenzana, allegedly linked to the Gordons, was caught inside the the Convention Center and couldn’t get out. He was only able to get out of the Convention Center with PNP escorts.

Meanwhile, local broadcast media outfits that have featured opposition candidates and have tried to cover electoral fraud are off the air due to power failures.

This report came from Kontra Daya convenor and film director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.

May 15, 2007 11:33 a.m.
Incomplete election paraphernalia in 3rd District, QC

Election officials at the E. Rodriguez Elementary School in Bgy. Silangan, 3rd District, Quezon City announced that the precincts 3568-A,3569-A had incomplete election returns (ERs) more than an hour after the counting started. The report came from the gay group Ladlad.

May 15, 2007 11:32 a.m.
Vote padding noted in Tondo

Around 12:30 pm, a member of the BEI of precinct 54-D in Bgy. 20, Tondo announced that 157 votes were cast despite the precinct only having 156 registered voters. Subsequently, the voting came to a halt.

May 15, 2007 11:29 a.m.
BEI's refuse to count mayoralty votes in Bacoor

KontraDaya received reports that Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) throughout Bacoor refused to count votes cast for mayoralty candidate Edwin Malvar because there is allegedly another Nathaniel Malvar who was running for mayor. Comelec's final list only had Edwin Malvar, Ner Castillo and Sirike Revilla. The issue disrupted the counting of the votes.

May 15, 2007 10:53 a.m.
Soldiers accost, harass foreign observers in Cebu checkpoint

CEBU—Military troops from the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army twice stopped and harassed delegates of the Peoples' International Observers Mission (Peoples' IOM) passing through a checkpoint in the municipality of Asturias, northwestern coast of Cebu yesterday afternoon.

According to American observer Elizabeth Hendrickson, the People's IOM Cebu team was stopped en route to Tuburan at a Philippine Army checkpoint in Brgy. Ginabasan, Asturias, Cebu. The checkpoint was headed by a certain Sgt. Ronald Pastrana.

The team was held for around ten minutes, while the names of foreign observers and Filipino team members were taken by the military. The team was released shortly afterwards and proceeded to another mission area which is Tuburan.

However, as they were travelling out of the area, passing the same road, the same military troops again accosted the team. This time around, the military held the team for 15 minutes and took photographs of the delegates without their consent.

The troops asked the team leaders where their next destination was. Some of the soldiers also refused to disclose their names and covered their name tags with their rifles. The People's IOM Cebu team was able to monitor the election conduct in Bakyawan, Tuburan, and the Poblacion in Aloguinsan. They said that the canvassing area in Aloguinsan is congested, Hendrickson said.

The team has reached Toledo City.

May 15, 2007 10:48 a.m.
International observers witness blatant cheating
and chaos in Lanao del Sur elections

Kontra Daya received initial reports from the People’s International Observers’ Mission (IOM) stationed in Marawi City.

Vote-buying and coaching of voters inside election precincts were most rampant with the poll watchers sitting beside voters dictating the names to be written on the ballots.

Members of the board of election inspectors have practically given up policing the precincts with just anybody entering and interacting with voters.

The IOM saw and interviewed voters who had multiple fingers marked with ink which is easily erased with soap and water. Voters also freely admitted having voted several times and were paid a minimum of fifty pesos for municipal and city councilors to as much as two thousand pesos for mayoralty candidates. Minors as young as 15 to 16 years old were also allowed to vote.

Peso bills were stapled on sample ballots or campaign leaflets and were passed on to the voters through window grills. Ballpens in voting booths also sported stickers with candidates’ names written on them. BEIs appeared to deliberately ignore these acts, often appearing hopeless to stop the illegal acts.

Missing in the precincts the IOM visited were voters lists posted outside the classrooms, secrecy folders and the list of candidates in national and local positions.

The delegates also interviewed disenfranchised voters, some of whom lined up and looked for their precincts from morning until the precincts closed several minutes past the official time of three o’clock.

Members of the Philippine National Police-Regional Special Action Force also dictated on the BEIs on the precincts’ closing time. They also touted assault and sniper’s rifles and pistols freely. They camped inside the schools, appearing to have been posted there for a long time already.

The IOM team also suffered harassment from candidates’ supporters. Media members have been repeatedly confronted; one carrying a video camera was even hit by an incensed supporter.

The IOM delegates are set to visit the vote counting areas tonight to observe further the conduct of the elections in the area.

Videos and still photographs taken by the IOM will be later presented in Manila at the conclusion of the mission.

May 15, 2007 10:26 a.m.
Only 65 Party-List Groups Listed

An email sent by poll watchers reported that only 65 party-list groups were on the official list of party-list in Precinct 137, Molino 7, Bacoor, CAVITE, Reg 04-A. The official Comelec list is supposed to show 91 party-list groups vying for 55 seats in the 14th congress.

May 15, 2007 10:25 a.m.
Irreguralities in Precinct in Paranaque City

Voters shouted in annoyance as elections could not progress in Marcelo Center, Paranaque City because some precincts did not have have sufficient election paraphernalia. A Kontra Daya team learned that until 12:45 in the afternoon, no election paraphernalia had been delivered from the Commission on Election.

May 15, 2007 10:23 a.m.
Election materials arrived late in Caloocan

Election materials for four polling precincts in Caloocan arrived four hours late.

Precinct numbers 1656, 1657, 1658 and 1659 at the Tala Elementary School received the masterlist of voters and other election paraphernalia around 10 a.m. yesterday.

Due to the delay, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) estimated that at least 328 voters failed to vote.

May 15, 2007 10:21 a.m.
More voters in QC disenfranchised

KontraDaya received complaints from 20 voters who did not find their names from the list of registered voters at the polling center North Fairview Elementary School in Quezon City.

According to Comelec rules, voters are deactivated if they failed to vote in the last two elections. Complainants, however, said they voted in the 2004 elections.

Complainants were Fely Aspa, Flora Uñalan, Jonnel Caluntay, Primo Atbo Detordes, Mike Cabdeba, Danilo Catgcatag, Juliet Catagcatag, Julita Pajaron, Arsenia Balot, Melita Gasola, Erlinda Macario, Jessica Cano, Sherwin Samson, Josephine Cacho, Raquel Ventura, Carolina Caranto, Danilo Caranto, Mercy Racel, Edgardo Rojas, Hazel Silvestre.

May 15, 2007 08:33 a.m.
Voters Missing in Quezon City Lists

At least 300 qualified voters failed to cast their ballots in the different precincts of Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Sitio Veterans, Bagong Silangan. Data from poll watchers indicated that COMELEC’s master list of voters was 300 short of the 15, 116 registered voters in the area.

COMELEC claims that these voters were missing because they had been “deactivated” after failing to vote in two consecutive elections. However, one person has come forward to dispute this — Marichu Villaces presented poll watchers with her application for registration, which showed that she had voted in the 2004 elections.

There was also confusion during the opening of the polling precincts within the Sagrada-Carmelite Parish in Novaliches. Voters noticed different pictures under their names, while in Precinct # 1816, voters mistakenly dropped their ballots in the compartment intended for the thumb marked stubs.

Board of Election (BEI) members Merlyn Sulam, Cyndi Gonzales, and Engel Bert Manuel have promised to rectify these errors

May 15, 2007 08:32 a.m.
Discrepancy in Tallying of Overseas Votes

HONG KONG — In Precinct 25 of the Bayanihan Center, 500 votes were counted by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI). But there were only 398 thumb marked stubs, and therefore, only 398 registered voters for that ballot box.

CIBAC and Gabriela partylist poll watchers noted the discrepancy, but SBEI Chairperson Lelita Lastima decided to continue with the counting. She rationalized her decision by saying that their precinct received the additional 102 ballots from another ballot box or precinct, and explained that the situation was “normal.” The same thing, she claimed, had happened in 2004, because the number of voting precincts had increased from 22 to 38, which resulted in thumb marked stubs that were not transferred from one ballot box to another due to the difficulty in ascertaining which stub was for which ballot.

The poll watchers filed an election protest, but Lastima refused to sign on the grounds that an SBEI Chairperson was “not authorized” to accept such protests. This led to the filing of another protest: the SBEI’s refusal to accept a protest from legitimate poll watchers.

Again, Lastima refused to sign it. The SBEI is instructed to submit protests to the OAV secretariat, so the poll watchers filed the protest on their own, submitting it directly to the OAV secretariat.

May 15, 2007 08:31 a.m.
Un-due Electoral Processes

VALENZUELA — In Parada, Bagbagin, and other precincts, instances of cheating have been reported repeatedly to Kontra Daya. Poll watchers were allegedly prevented from monitoring the transfer of ballot boxes, which led to claims of switching of ballots.

BULACAN — Right after poll watchers delivered ballot boxes to Rom Malolos City Hall, policemen ordered them to leave. Said policemen claimed that only members of S.W.A.T. were allowed to guard the reception and custody group in charge of ballot boxes. The poll watchers are to be allowed back inside on 9:00 am of the next day, May 15.

NUEVA ECIJA — Around 200 supporters of incumbent mayor Dale Joson formed a human barricade along Quezon Licab and Guimba, Nueva Ecija, preventing mayoralty candidate Denis Alejandro from entering the precinct to vote. The Joson loyalists held up placards with slogans like, “Umalis ka. Ayaw naming ng pangit ditto.”

SHARRIF KABUNGSUAN — Poll watchers of the partylist Suara Bangsamoro were not allowed to observe the tallying in the precincts. In another report, the Election Officers of Datu Odin Sinsuat (Dinaig) issued only one E.R., instead of the seven required, and only representatives of Lakas-CMD, NPC, and Assalam were given copies.

TAGUIG — Around 12:20 am, May 15, Coordinator Gina of GWP/TFPW reported that Secretary Angelo Reyes arrived on the premises of Signal Elementary School and proceeded directly to the principal’s office, where a stack of E.R.s and ballot boxes were kept. The poll watchers and teachers present strongly objected, but these were met by threats from the security detail, and the door was closed on them. Later, poll watchers asked for copies of election documents, but their attempts were met with refusals by the election officers.

CALOOCAN — Poll watchers confirmed that two ballot boxes were snatched from Caloocon High School and Bagong Silang, at around 10:00-11:30 pm of May 14. Reports of violations sent to Kontra-Daya also alleged that in Brgy. 162, Precint # 444, thumb marking and signing of Certificates of Canvass (CoCs) took place even before the official completion of the tallying.

Such incidents are direct violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

May 15, 2007 08:30 a.m.
Extensive Vote Buying Taking Place

EASTERN SAMAR — In Borongan, it was reported that widespread vote-buying took place the date before the election. Congressional candidate Elda Libanan, wife of newly appointed Commissioner and incumbent Congressman Nonoy Libanan, handed out envelopes containing P200 in cash. Reelectionist Fidel Anacta, incumbent mayor of Borongan, gave handouts containing P400, while vice-mayoral candidate Fe Abunda’s envelopes contained P100.

CAGAYAN DE ORO — In Camiguin, the father-and-son tandem Governor Pedro “Loloy” Romualdo and Congressman Jesus Jardin “JJ” Romualdo were accused of giving P700 to voters as incentive to vote for them.

GENERAL SANTOS — Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was accused by citizens reporting to Kontra-Daya of vote-buying, claiming that in Brgy. Bula, they were given P350 in cash, along with caps. The Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) has also stated that a representative of Pacquiao attempted to bribe them.

May 15, 2007 02:30 a.m.
Violence and Fraud in Lanao del Sur

Reports of gunshots and a blackout in Wao, Lanao del Sur have reached Kontra-Daya, along with allegations of rampant vote-buying involving candidates at the gubernatorial, mayoral, and congressional level. Reports even specified amounts, with a governor and congressman handing out P300-500, while a mayor gave P6,000 per municipality. Others distributed sacks of rice with cash.

The blackout was claimed to be deliberately staged to sabotage the elections, although this is unconfirmed as of posting.

May 15, 2007 02:29 a.m.
Election Irregularities in Parañaque

A number of aberrations from standard election procedures were noted by poll watchers in Parañaque Central Elementary School. The security was lax, allowing unauthorized people easy access to the restricted areas. These people crowded the precincts, disturbing the tallying of election officers. There were also no tables ready for the Board of Inspectors.

May 15, 2007 02:28 a.m.
Massive fraud in North Cotabato

Pollwatchers confirmed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were forcing voters in Pantar, Banisilan, to cast their ballot for the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TCUP). Those who chose to vote instead for partylist Suara Bangsamoro claimed that they received threats from area commanders.

Also in North Cotabato, it was reported that voters were provided with an incomplete list of party-list candidates. The 2nd and 3rd pages of the official list released by the COMELEC were conspicuously missing in the following precincts: precinct # 0005A, Poblacion 3, and Midsayap.

The activist partylists Gabriela, Kabataan, and Suara Bangsamoro were among those on listed on the missing pages.

May 15, 2007 02:27 a.m.
Electoral Failures in NCR

Makati City —Myla Villavicencio, who asserts that she is a registered voter who already voted twice, found herself missing from the COMELEC Master List in Brgy. Guadalupe Viejo. She lives with her mother and sisters, all of whom were on the list, and they were able to vote. She, however, was not.

Quezon City — In Precinct # 2027–2, the Board of Inspectors purportedly removed the ballots from Fairview Elementary School, getting the signatures of watchers on the election returns (E.R.) even before the tallying was officially over.

May 14, 2007 11:28 p.m.
Brownout in Olangapo reported

Kontra Daya convenor and film director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna sent us an urgent text report from local journalist Gina Prohorov requesting media coverage of the brownouts that hit Olongapo City. Prohorov says that there have been power outages in several precincts.

The text report goes on to say that ballot boxes "have been brought to the convention center" and will be moved to City Hall "for no reason". Prohorov goes on to say that access to pollwatchers has been "severely restricted". This has raised concerns about the switching of election documents.

May 14, 2007 11:27 p.m.
Disenfranchisement of Voters

Bgy. Guadalupe Viejo —Myla Villavicencio, who asserts that she is a registered voter who already voted twice, found herself missing from the COMELEC Master List in these 2007 elections. She lives with her mother and sisters, all of whom were on the list, and they were able to vote.

She asked Kontra-Daya to include her in a list of missing voters should the organization come up with one.

May 14, 2007 11:26 p.m.
Massive Vote Buying in Lanao del Sur

Kontra Daya received text reports that candidates at the gubernatorial, mayoral, and congressional levels are allegedly engaged in rampant vote-buying in Lanao del Sur. Reports even specified amounts, with a governor and congressman handing out P300-500, while a mayor gave P6,000 per municipality. Others distributed sacks of rice with cash.

May 14, 2007 10:36 p.m.
Irregularities in Precinct in Paranaque City

Voters shouted in annoyance as elections could not progress in Marcelo Center, Paranaque City because some precincts did not have have sufficient election paraphernalia. A Kontra Daya team learned that until 12:45 in the afternoon, no election paraphernalia had been delivered from the Commission on Election.

May 14, 2007 10:34 p.m.
Only 65 Party-List Groups Listed

An email sent by poll watchers reported that only 65 party-list groups were on the official list of party-list in Precinct 137, Molino 7, Bacoor, CAVITE, Reg 04-A. The official Comelec list is supposed to show 91 party-list groups vying for 55 seats in the 14th congress.

May 14, 2007 09:29 p.m.
Partylist pollwatchers barred from entering precinct

Kontra Daya received reports that poll watchers of militant partylist group Bayan Muna in Bgy. Pagkaluban, Barcelona, Sorsogon were being asked to go out of the precincts by the Board of Election Inspectors upon orders from the military. The incident occurred at around 9:25.

May 14, 2007 08:33 p.m.
Teachers report no payment for poll service

The ACT Hotline received numerous reports over the weekend of teachers not receiving payment for their election service. Teachers in the First District of Caloocan reported not being given any payment at all. Teachers in Paranaque likewise received no payments as polls opened on Monday. Teachers of Culiat High School and Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City were also not paid.

Teachers in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan, Cebu City , and Bacolod reported not receiving their transportation allowance. Bacolod teachers were allegedly told that the transportation allowance was only for "far-flung areas."

In Masbate province, teachers reported that the majority of teachers have not received any payment for election service. They reported being told to expect payment on June 10.

Teachers in General Santos City also reported that they were not given their initial honorarium nor their transportation allowance.

A Memorandum of Agreement between the COMELEC and the Department of Education stipulates that all teachers serving in the Boards of Election Inspectors shall be paid P1,500 (fifty percent of their honorarium) together with a P300 transportation allowance upon retrieving election paraphernalia from the city hall. The balance of P1,500 shall be paid when the teachers return the ballot boxes.

May 14, 2007 08:32 p.m.
Disorganized distribution of election paraphernalia

Lack of planning ang preparation marred the distribution of election paraphernalia in the designated centers in a number of cities. In Quezon City , after initial chaos, teachers stood in line for hours in order to retrieve the election paraphernalia for their precincts, then had to stand in line again to receive their payment. A teacher from E. Rodriguez High School fainted and was brought to the hospital. Teachers complained that there were too few personnel assigned to distribute the paraphernalia and as cashiers. They expressed concern that they would encounter a similar scenario when they return the ballot boxes at the end of the counting of votes.

At the distribution center in Bagong Silang High School in Caloocan , teachers showed up at 1 a.m. of May 14 to collect their election paraphernalia. They reported that the distribution was disorderly and ill-prepared.

At the distribution center in the De Castro Elementary School in Pasig , teachers lined up from 3:30pm to 11:30pm of May 13 to receive their initial payment. They were then made to return at 2 a.m. of May 14 to collect their election paraphernalia.


Last-minute replacement of teachers as BEIs

ACT continues to raise the alarm over reports of the last-minute replacement of teachers with non-teachers in the Boards of Election Inspectors in a number of cities in Metro Manila. The replacements are allegedly drawn from the ranks of supporters of incumbent local government officials.

In Paranaque , teachers discovered on the morning of May 13 that the positions of Poll Clerk and Third Member in the Boards of Election Inspectors were given to non-teachers. In Taguig and Pateros, over 200 public school teachers were replaced with non-teachers in the BEIs. Teachers were similarly replaced by non-teachers in numerous precincts in Caloocan . ACT is working with the election watchdog Kontra Daya to verify these reports.

Election laws require that the Board of Election Inspectors in every precinct shall be composed of public school teachers. In case of a shortage of teachers, the poll clerk and third member of the BEI may be replaced with qualified individuals who are not teachers.#

May 14, 2007 08:31 p.m.
100 ballots reported missing in QC

As of 8:01 p.m., KontraDaya received reports that 100 ballots are missing at the polling center P. Bernardo High School in Bgy. Kaunlaran, District IV, Quezon City.

The polling center also lost electricity since 8:00 p.m.

May 14, 2007 08:30 p.m.
Policemen meddle with elections in Tondo

Around 5pm, two policemen in uniform identified by their last names, Diaz and Espiritu, started entering the premises of Magat Salamat Elementary School and started listing down partial election results.

When the election officers confronted them, the said police officers admitted they were ordered to do what they did. They, however, refused to identify who gave them the orders.

May 14, 2007 07:56 p.m.
ERs found missing in QC

There are missing election returns (ERs) in polling precincts 3568-A and 3569-A at the E. Rodriguez Elementary School in Bgy. Silangan, 3rd District of Quezon City.

KontraDaya received this report around 6:45 p.m. Members of the board of election inspectors (BEI) from both precincts started counting votes until they found out that the ERs are incomplete.

May 14, 2007 06:52 p.m.
Money seems to be flooding in Manila, Pasay

KontraDaya received numerous reports of vote buying via its hotline 442-09-40.

In Manila, supporters of mayoralty candidate Ali Atienza allegedly gave out P1,000 each to voters at the Herminigildo Atienza Elementary School in Baseco, Tondo, Manila.

Atienza's supporters also reportedly gave away campaign stickers and P20 for each voter at the
Antonio Luna Elementary School.

In Pasay City, alleged supporters of Connie Dy, led by a certain Barangay Captain Henry Valenzuela, were seen giving out P200 to voters at the Jose Rizal Elementary School in P. Villanueva Street.

May 14, 2007 06:34 p.m.
Field reports from Mindanao show widespread irregularities

Reports coming from Suara Bangsamoro indicate that incidents of electoral fraud and violence remain widespread in Mindanao. It can be recalled that massive cheating and election-related violence were documented in many areas in Mindanao during the 2004 presidential elections.

In Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, campaign materials of Team Unity were allegedly distributed along with carbon papers to voters in the polling precincts. The carbon paper would allegedly allow perpetrators of this election violation to know whether the person voted for TU or not.

A blast from an improvised grenade wounded Alejandro Blanca at around 8:30 this morning, just five meters away from the polling place in Balanagan Elementary School, Balanagan, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur.

Meanwhile, in Midsayap, North Cotabato, at least four precincts reportedly did not provide a list for partylist groups in the secrecy folder provided to voters. The precincts are: Precinct numbers 0002 and 0005A in Poblacion 3; precinct number 0040A of Poblacion 5; and precinct number 0023A in Poblacion 2. This ?omission? might have discouraged voters to write down a partylist in their ballots.

In Lanao del Sur, no elections were held in the municipalities of Kapai, Binidayan, Marogong and Taraka.

May 14, 2007 05:34 p.m.
Genuino spotted in Makati precinct, Kontra Daya cries foul

Kontra Daya received reports from a team of the International Observers Mission in Makati that PAGCOR chairman Ephraim Genuino was seen going in and out of precincts in Pembo Elementary School, accompanied by armed body guards. The incident happened at around 5pm.

Genuino's son, Erwin, is running for a congressional seat in the second district of Makati.

It seems that Pagcor chair Genuino has gone a long way sinc the time he was caught surreptitiously meeting with then Comelec commissioner Virigilio Garcillano in a deluxe hotel along Roxas Boulevard at the height of the canvassing of the 2004 elections.

Now that his son's lavish electoral campaign is at stake, he makes it plain for everyone to see the obvious power he possesses by going around precincts with armed bodyguards we believe to be members of the elite Presidential Security Group.

The question begging to be asked if these actions by Genuino are intended to influence canvassers and observers.

Kontra Daya believes that the ghosts of our past shall continue to haunt us until the victors and despoilers of the 2004 elections are held to fully account for their actions, including the voices in the infamous Garci tapes.


May 14, 2007 04:54 p.m.
Local bet in QC allegedly buys votes

Kontradaya received another report of alleged vote buying, this time at the Betty Go Belmonte Elementary School, Barangay Dona Imelda, 4th District of Quezon City. Resty Malangin, a candidate for councilor in the said district, was named. The report has yet to be verified.

May 14, 2007 04:53 p.m.
Residents of Corinthian Gardens removed from voter's list

Reporting through e-mail, Clarisse Oben and family along with several other registered voters failed to vote because their names have been stricken out of the official voter's list in their polling center.

According to Commission on Elections (Comelec), voters were de-listed for failure to vote in the last two elections, as the ruled provides. Olsen, however, denied she did not vote in the last two elections.

May 14, 2007 04:46 p.m.
Votes for Cayetano not counted

As the counting begins, voters from various precincts told KontraDaya that votes for Alan Peter Cayetano were not being counted.

Buboy Cabrera, president of All UP Workers Union, said he wrote only the surname Cayetano since Peter Cayetano has already been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Cabrera said that "Cayetano" votes were not being counted in the UP Diliman precincts. Another voter from BF Homes Paranaque, Vilma Tupaz, complained of the same.

May 14, 2007 03:57 p.m.
Zamboanga City mayor’s ally loads up gas for tricycle drivers

A gas station owned by a known supporter of Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat loaded up five liters of gasoline each to tricycle drivers.

The incident took place in the afternoon of May 13.

May 14, 2007 03:43 p.m.
Armed men put indelible ink on voters’ fingers

KontraDaya received a report from Bacolod City that seven armed men put indelible ink on the fingers of voters, around 2 a.m. on election day. The victims were thereby deprived of their right to vote.

May 14, 2007 03:42 p.m.
Mayoralty bet in Valenzuela allegedly giving out money

Sherwin Gatchalian, a candidate for mayor in Valenzuela, allegedly gave out money and grocery items to voters in an urban poor community in Canumay, a report from KontraDaya revealed.

The report alleged that Gatchalian himself approached the voters on May 13, around 10 p.m.

May 14, 2007 03:12 p.m.
Another case of disenfranchisement

Romeo Luneta, a member of human rights group Karapatan, reported to KontraDaya that his name is missing from the list of registered voters in his designated precinct at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish School, Barangay Concepcion, District IV, Quezon City.

Kontradaya has been receiving similar cases of disenfranchisement since this morning coming from all over Metro Manila and other parts of the count.

May 14, 2007 02:44 p.m.
Reports of illegal campaigning and intimidation in Rosales, Pangasinan

Kontra Daya received e-mail and video reports that the incumbent mayor and mayoralty candidate of Rosales, Pangasinan, a certain Mayor Ricardo Revita, a retired police major was engaged in illegal acts of campaigning near the polling precinct and possible intimidation of voters. The report came from a supporter of rival mayoralty candidate Remy Yu.

The report which was received through kontradaya2007@yahoo.com said that supporters of incumbent mayor Revita are seen in red shirts with prints of the mayor's name. Sample ballots with his name are given inside voting precincts. The complainant also saw uniformed policemen and soldiers in Rosales surrounding the precinct. He also said public ambulances are also being used to distribute food to politicians supporters.

Concerned resident of Rosales, Pangasinan gave us this video caught on his 3G mobile phone. The video clip shows that uniformed members of the PNP SWAT infront of polling precints. The second clip features supporters of the incumbent mayor handing out sample ballots in an alleged polling area. We urge the COMELEC and media to verify the said reports and hold accountable the people behind this incident.