By Joy Konstantine Agustin

THE news about Among Ed Panlilio running for President literally created a buzz over the country’s political landscape. Activists hoorayed. Traditional politicians booed. Church leaders are divided. The bloggers are skeptical.

Among Ed running for president? Come on! I mean, seriously?!

Let’s face it. Minutes after Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio disclosed to the public that he is taking a shot at the highest post in the country, people had mixed opinions about his intentions.

As what usually happens when someone announces his intentions to run for a public office, rumors of incapability, allegations of corruption, and bad reputations start to swell and prematurely stop, if not to kill, the momentous announcement.

Yes, the voting populace is becoming more mature in choosing a candidate. We have witnessed how popular candidates lost in the 2007 elections. But as people become more mature, they start to dig deeper. They do their research. They watch the news, read the papers. They see the good and the bad sides.

And here we are, being presented an alternative and reform candidate who made a phenomenal entrance in the political scenery when he toppled and won over the political giants in Pampanga. And here we are, being presented the various reactions from seasoned politicians, political analysts and survey results that tend to help (or disturb) the way we choose our leaders.

The people clamor for change. The people have long wanted for an alternative and reform candidate to emerge and bid for the presidential post.

We want it.

But are we bold enough to choose correctly? Are we really ready?

Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front has joined President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call for the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is also going to be the election that would test the automated election system mandated by law.

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez also reported on MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu’s disclosure about his meeting with the President in Shariff Kabunsuan not to discuss the pending peace agreement but to oversee the implementation of a government project involving the clearing and dredging of the heavily silted Rio Grande de Mindanao in the province.

Arroyo’s recommendation came after lawmakers have indicated plans to file separate bills to push for the postponement of the ARMM polls.

Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo, however, wanted the ARMM polls to push through, but also noted that “it’s up to Congress.”

SO, who the heck are the five Commission on Elections nominees whose names have been submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?

Here’s an excerpt from the “Lack of transparency in Comelec selection process hit” Breaking News story of INQUIRER.net reporter Veronica Uy:

On Monday, the Malacañanag-formed search committee submitted its five nominees to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but refused name them.

“[This] lack of transparency is unconstitutional… The people have the right to know who the nominees are,” said Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan.

The seven soon to be vacant seats in the poll body are currently being occupied by Resurreccion Borra as acting Comelec chairperson, Commissioners Florentino Tuason, Romeo Brawner, Nicodemo Ferrer, and Rene Sarmiento, and the still-to-be-confirmed Moslemen Macarambon.

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) will begin its six-month evaluation to determine which technology the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will use for automating the 2010 presidential elections.

CICT chair Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua said eight vendors have been selected to test their solutions within the six-month period in selected areas nationwide.

“These vendors have solutions that use OMR (optical mark reader) and DRE (direct recording electronic) machines,” Roxas-Chua said during a meeting Wednesday with the IT Association of the Philippines (ITAP).

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Beverly T. Natividad
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–If the police can’t do it, perhaps the citizenry can.

Now considered as a “fugitive from justice,” Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol is now being offered for citizen arrest.

As Bedol continued to evade an arrest warrant issued against him, Commission on Elections Acting Chairman Resurreccion Borra cited on Monday the right and the power of every citizen to arrest the poll supervisor on site and bring him to the nearest local police.

[Read the rest of this entry »]