DESPITE trying to put our best foot forward, we have come up short again as a nation in proving that democracy is strong in our nation. Even with the relatively “calm” and “peaceful” election this time around, this did not deter the usual anomalies in the election process from taking place.
Vote buying, using children during election day, and voter disenfranchisement were just some of the usual activities that were observed.
ASIAN foreign observers expressed deep regret over the failure of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct peaceful, honest and orderly elections last May 14 in the six provinces of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
And the observation did not end in ARMM, as I reported on Tingog.com; other reports included: Voters disenfranchised in Tondo, soldiers harassing foreign observers at a Cebu checkpoint, observers being caught in midst of soldiers and crowd in Guimba, blatant cheating and chaos in Lanao Del Sur polls, as well as irregularities in Quezon…
Not that any election is perfect, but it seems the international media picked up on Arroyo’s statement the other day, and concluded that the election was fairly peaceful.
It’s good to note, however, that some foreign observers do have confidence that our election process will improve, and one observer also emphasized a move toward computerized elections.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha,….I’m glad that even yon mga dayohan nakikita nila kong ano ka corrupt this bugos regime of Gloria Arroyo.
I’m glad that they all see all those bought buying, Intemiditating people among other things! I’am also glad that they find out how this bugos President of cebu with her cronies run this country.
If philippines election will be computerizer good. But, Its going to be easy for them to cheat. Either way, They’re going to cheat one way or the other especially if their life depend on it. Just like Gloria Arroyo, Her life depend on her candidates this election.
But, If they succeeded on cheating either way she’s dead meat. So she better think again for contenueing their cheating. I don’t think filipino people going to take it setting down. I don’t think the filipino people going to let her get away with it. When that happen there is more blood going to spell on the street because her AFP/PNP the one going to do all the killing.
Just like whats happening right now.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Yes Monday Lessons, you can come to their countries and observe. Even inside the precincts foreign observers can go, unlike in the Philippines. They can even observe the checking of the voters’ cards agianst the register of voters. And all that without the risk of being thrown in jail for six years and face deportation as so nicely reported even in this otherwise good newspaper. They can watch if people can vote in privacy, they can watch how votes are counted, and guess there are even ballots in those countries with the names of all the candidates properly printed on it so one just has to circle the candidate of choice. So why do we not send the COMELEC on a tour to the world of real elections to observe?
May 17th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
[...] Eleksyon 2007 Blog : Foreign observers still dismayed [...]
May 17th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
A hard lesson in life is all abouth TRUTH!
the truth is really painful deep inside and out!
we failed to prove to the world how strong our democracy is! we failed to hide the truth from the foreign observers as they have seen the realities of philippine elections, how the poor electorate people were manipulated, how their votes were bought before they cast their votes.
sad to note, that the only important thing is to hold power at whatever cost. sad to say that the political system is controlled only by the elite families and their cronies/associates which dictated on whom to vote. is this democracy?
i’d better say not!
there is no genuine reform! the people will suffer to the very end. true peace will be achieved only at one’s tomb? i hope i’m just wrong!
May 17th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Everybody, from top level officials on down, are probably salivating over the prospect of a computerized elections. Just imagine the percentage of kickback each one gets when undertaking a multi-million project such as this. COMELEC officials themselves need to get revamped.