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.”

HISTORY repeats itself like a broken record.

Before, it was conjugal dictatorship and cronies. Then, it was Kamag-anak, Inc. Now, we call it political dynasty. Really, there’s nothing new under the sun.

The Estradas had set a bad precedent when mother and son won simultaneous seats in the Senate. In the recent election, we saw senatoriables with kin already sitting in the Senate. That’s one the reasons why I did not vote for Alan Cayetano, Vic Magsaysay and Koko Pimentel (See my previous blog entry: http://inquirerbloggers.net/eleksyon2007/2007/05/16/why-i-did-not-vote-for-pichay-cayetano-et-al/).

[Read the rest of this entry »]

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.

As reported in PCIJ,

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).

[Read the rest of this entry »]

THAT’S what former Senate president Jovito Salonga fears.

Here’s an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer story:

MANILA, Philippines–President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to call out the military to help police disband private armies, man 24-hour checkpoints and stop political killings has prompted ex-Senate President Jovito Salonga to warn that the May 14 elections could turn out to be as “violent and fraudulent” as the Marcos-era polls.

[Read the rest of this entry »]