The Aftermath

It has been a day since we trooped to the polls to decide our destiny. I must admit that I am satisfied so far with the speed of the results. I must say I am disappointed however with the slow pace some of the results are being transmitted which makes some people suspect trending. I've heard from friends far south that operators are hard at work. Could this be the reason why problems of transmission seem to crop up? Even Cebu which has a modern telecom system seem to be encountering problems. I am not surprised with Lanao and we all know very well how Mindanao has always been an operator's haven.

Despite the promises of automation, I am wary of its performance. Disenfranchisement, pre-shading and even vote-buying were reported. I myself witnessed how jeepney-loads of voters were brought to the polling center and were fed before voting. Even disinformation was used to prevent voters from voting. Certain volunteers of a party-list were telling voters that the elections was extended to 11:00pm when it fact it was extended only by an hour.

In the bailiwick of a losing candidate, I got reports of intimidation and harassment. Voters in the depressed areas were fetched from their homes and brought to the polls. They were made to insert pre-shaded ballots into the PCOS machines. In fact, my very own mother complained to the BEI because her secrecy folder bore the signature and logo of a candidate. The PPCRV volunteer merely took the folder. My sister even got into an argument with a PPCRV volunteer. Paging PPCRV, do really vet your volunteers? You may have moles in your organization. You are supposed to be impartial and just. Obviously you have questionable volunteers.

Pace of results have slowed down considerably. The speed last night was amazing. The entire day today, only trickles of updates were given. Notice how small the number of votes are? The lack of information about where the votes were coming from leads to speculations. Even if my candidate is leading, I would like to know where the results were coming from. I'll be giving the COMELEC the benefit of the doubt, but are we really getting the right results? I now question the wisdom of random auditing. How I wished the parallel count was allowed.

The next few days will be crucial. I remain vigilant and regularly check COMELEC's website to check which precincts have sent their reports. It maybe a tedious task but that's the only way for me to get the real score. I hope everything works out. So much is riding on this elections. We cannot afford to be complacent. Unseen hands can still manipulate the outcome.

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Preposterous

The Comelec first made morality an issue with the Ang Ladlad partylist. Now it veers away from its morality to hand down a staggering 12,000 page resolution that could cost Gov. Grace Padaca her governorship. Is is a case of hypocrisy or an injustice to the Isabela electorate? How can a morally upright(?) institution render such a preposterous decision. With only five days to reply, Gov. Padaca and her volunteers will not be able to comb through the voluminous paperwork. The Comelec says that one person filled out 18,000 ballots to give Gov. Padaca the gubernatorial seat. Even presidential election lawyer, Romy Macalintal found the resolution incredulous.

Perhaps the Comelec thinks that that one person can help Gov. Padaca sift through these 12,000 pages. I also find it hard to accept the Dy's claim that Gov. Padaca and he armed group terrorized the electorate into voting her in office. How stupid can these people be? A frail paraplegic going up against an entrenched powerful political clan and winning is an inspiring feat! Are we made to believe that the Dys are weak? I suppose the people of Isabela wanted change. We all know who the warlords of Luzon are.

Are we to believe the Comelec is credible? This shows how weak our institutions are. How the honest and innocent employees of the Comelec are dragged down by a handful of cheats. These "package deals" in the Comelec should stop. We cannot accept and should not tolerate this kind of injustice. It is not our local leaders who suffer, it is us their constituents. The operators in the Comelec has not lost their touch. This brazen act is no different from the gruesome massacre in Amaptuan. I believe the 2nd Division which rendered this decision should be held accountable by the next administration. They are a disgrace to the commission and to the honest employees of the Comelec.

The culture of impunity and corruption continues. There is no institution we can trust. Even those tasked to protect are votes can be bought. Even if we vote for good leaders, our will can be subverted by these crooks in the Comelec. Automation or not, it's the people who lead this commission who decides who can sit or not. At the end of the end, the Comelec can be bought. With the right price and the right "package deal", the rich influential trapos will continue to rule the land.

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ComSelec

The Commission on S-Election is about to kick Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga out of his office. I'm sure they will as the trend shows that those who speak against and expose the corruption in Malacañan are being ousted one by one. Gloria's rebellion continues. She has managed to put every agency and even the branches of government under her control. The first to go was Gov. Jonjon Mendoza of Bulacan, then Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and within the next few days, Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga. These three have been outspoken and managed to defeat the candidates close to GMA.

What can we expect from the ComSelec in the coming election? Would the elections be credible under their watch. I'm beginning to believe those who say the elections can be rigged despite the automation. With the kind of hoodlums operation in the commission, I'm having reservations about putting my faith in the coming elections. They may not be able to rig the presidential election but they can certainly manipulate the local race.

I cannot imagine how Gov. Panlilio cheat his way to winning the gubernatorial race in Pampanga. I also cannot believe how Gov. Pandaca was able to cheat the money and influence of the Dys. The ComSelec sure works in ways beyond logic and imagination. Are we being led into a trap with the automation of the 2010 elections? I guess we put so much trust that automation will reduce if not eradicate electoral cheating and fraud.

Perhaps vigilance will not be enough. Perhaps we should start electing the members of the Comelec if only to reduce the chances that the appointees will not be beholden to the one who appointed them. What else can we do to prevent the Comelec from being party to massive fraud? The commission surely has some explaining to do. We must overhaul the Comelec and what they can be accountable of. I'm sure they will say that evidence shows that those they are ousting cheated. But we must also remember that evidence can be manufactured.

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