Noynoy wants to take oath before village watchman By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/15/2010

Noynoy wants to take oath before village watchman

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/15/2010 Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino continues with his stand of refusing to recognize the appointment of the new Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice, Renato Corona, and plans to insult the new CJ further by having a provincial barangay tanod (village watchman) swear him in as president of the republic, if and when he is proclaimed president-elect by Congress. He intimated this to the reporters who covered him yesterday. While no constitutional rule or law will be breached if Aquino does take his oath of office before a barangay tanod, and that traditionally, SC justices swear in presidents, it is believed that this is Aquino’s way of pressuring the new CJ through constant non-recognition of new CJ, into not accepting the post given him by President Arroyo. It is, however, doubted whether Corona will buckle down to the pressure being applied by Aquino and his yellow followers. Corona is scheduled to take his oath of office by the 17th at the earliest, or the 18th at the latest. Malacañang yesterday said a possible constitutional crisis could erupt if Aquino, who is currently leading in the presidential race in the unofficial tally, will keep on refusing to recognize Arroyo’s appointed Chief Justice, intimating that such a position Aquino is taking may further rent the nation.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100515hed2.html

HEADLINES Comelec destroying flash card ‘evidence’ Noynoy wants to take oath before village watchman Comelec to proclaim 8 winning Senate bets SC dismisses Mike A’s petition vs journalists Military chief leaves fate to next President Aquino, LP into congressional horse trading

Aquino, LP into congressional horse trading 05/15/2010

Aquino, LP into congressional horse trading

05/15/2010 With very few Liberal Party members getting into the 15th Congress, the claimed “high standards” of LP presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in first screening political butterflies joining his camp before acceptance into his camp, have been vastly lowered. Today, with no hope of gaining a majority in Congress, Aquino, the leading presidential candidate in unofficial tallies, is now wooing Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar, his campaign rival, whom he had called corrupt, and demanded an explanation into Villar’s abuse of power while benefitting his businesses and himself. Aquino, who was in Tarlac yesterday, made overtures to his defeated rivals in the presidential election to join the LP in forming a majority bloc as part of his efforts to win control of Congress. Aquino’s LP will not have majority of seats in the Senate or the House of Representatives even if he enjoys a commanding win in Monday’s presidential election. Saying that cooperation between the LP and the Nacionalista Party, which Villar heads, Aquino claimed: “There shouldn’t be a problem if it is for the good of the country.” It will be recalled that during the campaign, Aquino claimed that while he welcomes administration party defectors, not all will be accepted, as he claimed that he does not want the corruption-tainted adminis-tration party members to be in his team..... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100515hed6.html

HEADLINES Comelec destroying flash card ‘evidence’ Noynoy wants to take oath before village watchman Comelec to proclaim 8 winning Senate bets SC dismisses Mike A’s petition vs journalists Military chief leaves fate to next President Aquino, LP into congressional horse trading

Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help N E W S B R I E F S 05/15/2010

Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help

N E W S B R I E F S 05/15/2010 An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East yesterday said it has been receiving several requests for assistance and inquiries from 22 stranded Filipinos, mostly women and children, living under a bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Khandara Bridge in Jeddah has been made into a refugee camp for stranded foreign and Filipino migrant workers who hope that local immigration police would apprehend them and eventually deport them to their respective countries. John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional director, said staying under the Khandara Bridge poses dangers to the stranded Filipinos, especially to their children. “Our Migrante chapter in Jeddah has been receiving requests for assistance from 22 stranded OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), some with four children (with them), as they seek refuge under the Khandara Bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” he said..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100515nat13.html

NATION AFP to brief incoming President before June 30 Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates Winners in Cavite congressional race proclaimed Only six added to nabbed gun ban violators Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP Latvian consul impressed with conduct of auto polls Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age N E W S B R I E F S ‘Barangay, SK polls need not be automated’ N E W S B R I E F S Suspects who set fire to schools nabbed N E W S B R I E F S Soldiers to get awards for election work N E W S B R I E F S DFA: No Pinoys in Libyan plane that crashed N E W S B R I E F S Four RP universities in Asian Top 200 N E W S B R I E F S Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help

Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates 05/15/2010

Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates

05/15/2010 A Greek cargo vessel with 19 Filipino crew members was seized by ransom-seeking Somali pirates off the coast of Oman on May 12, a Philippine embassy report said yesterday. The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned M/V Eleni P was hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, while it was on its way to Kandla, India.  Aside from the Filipinos, two Romanians and an Indian were also on board the ship. “The European Union Naval Force said the crew are safe and they are monitoring the situation,” the embassy said. There are now 66 Filipino seafarers on board six vessels being held captive by Somali pirates: three onboard the M/V St. James Park, one onboard the M/V Iceberg 1, 19 onboard the M/T Samho Dream, three on M/V Tai Yuan 227, 21 on M/V Voc Daisy and 19 on board the M/V Eleni P.  The DFA said it continues to coordinate closely with the local manning agencies for the early and safe release of all these seafarers.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100515nat2.html

NATION AFP to brief incoming President before June 30 Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates Winners in Cavite congressional race proclaimed Only six added to nabbed gun ban violators Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP Latvian consul impressed with conduct of auto polls Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age N E W S B R I E F S ‘Barangay, SK polls need not be automated’ N E W S B R I E F S Suspects who set fire to schools nabbed N E W S B R I E F S Soldiers to get awards for election work N E W S B R I E F S DFA: No Pinoys in Libyan plane that crashed N E W S B R I E F S Four RP universities in Asian Top 200 N E W S B R I E F S Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help

Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP 05/15/2010

Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP

05/15/2010 The current trend in the counting of votes for the vice presidential race is not going to change and the final result of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Parish Pastoral Counting for Responsible Voting’s (PPCRV) canvassing will ultimately spell victory for Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) vice presidential bet, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. According to Prof. Leny de Jesus of the University of the Philippines College of Economics, only an “external force” could change the trend in the on-going count for the votes in the vice presidential race. De Jesus, who was engaged by the PMP to explain the data released by the Comelec and the PPCRV, said changes in the results or trend will only be brought about by an extraordinary situation. “What I’m saying is that if there are changes, there must have been something that happened out of the ordinary,” she said in a press conference at the PMP headquarters on Shaw Boulevard. “Any statistical change will only happen if there is some kind of manipulation,” she added.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100515nat5.html

NATION AFP to brief incoming President before June 30 Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates Winners in Cavite congressional race proclaimed Only six added to nabbed gun ban violators Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP Latvian consul impressed with conduct of auto polls Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age N E W S B R I E F S ‘Barangay, SK polls need not be automated’ N E W S B R I E F S Suspects who set fire to schools nabbed N E W S B R I E F S Soldiers to get awards for election work N E W S B R I E F S DFA: No Pinoys in Libyan plane that crashed N E W S B R I E F S Four RP universities in Asian Top 200 N E W S B R I E F S Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help

Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age 05/15/2010

Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age

05/15/2010 Philippine politics will never be the same after the country’s first automated ballot electrified voters long used to cheating, violence and disputes over delayed results. Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, 50, whose parents led the struggle to restore the country’s democracy, will soon become the nation’s first digitally elected President after a rapid vote count showed him winning by a landslide. Despite daunting logistic challenges in a sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago with 50 million voters, ballot-counting machines were activated just in time for Monday’s elections for 17,000 positions. The saying that “guns, goons and gold” lord it over Philippine elections may no longer be totally true after a new weapon, the microchip, entered the scene. “That was so pleasant: waking up to the results the morning after general elections,” political scientist Alex Magno wrote in his column in another daily. “If there was any group wanting to disrupt the voting and the count, they were stumped by the speed of the process.”... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100515nat7.html

NATION AFP to brief incoming President before June 30 Ship with 19 Filipino crew seized by Somali pirates Winners in Cavite congressional race proclaimed Only six added to nabbed gun ban violators Trend won’t change, Binay to win over Mar — PMP Latvian consul impressed with conduct of auto polls Automated voting jolts local politics into digital age N E W S B R I E F S ‘Barangay, SK polls need not be automated’ N E W S B R I E F S Suspects who set fire to schools nabbed N E W S B R I E F S Soldiers to get awards for election work N E W S B R I E F S DFA: No Pinoys in Libyan plane that crashed N E W S B R I E F S Four RP universities in Asian Top 200 N E W S B R I E F S Stranded OFWs in Saudi plead for help

Peoples International Observers Mission report specific fraud and disorder cases in the 2010 Philippine elections

Press conference by the Peoples' International Observers Mission on the conduct of the 2010 elections in the Philippines

Composed of academicians, lawyers, law students, journalists, social workers, union organizers, church workers, the PIOM foreign delegates documented specific cases of fraud and violence in some of the country’s hot spot areas. (Photo by Raymund B. Villanueva / Kodao Productions / bulatlat.com)

An emotional Frances Smith of the California Nevada annual methodist church and my own church in califoriania diverted from her prepared speech to say:

I'm an old woman. I've voted in elections for years. I've served on election boards in my community. What i saw in Payatas was the truly inspirational power of the human spirit of the Filipino people. They eagerly lined up for the 7 am opening of the polls for what they thought, what they had been told, was a planned smooth, orderly process but which became increasingly chaotic as the day dragged on and on and on till 7 pm, and for some, they stayed in schools way after midnight to ensure that the ballots got transferred. If there'is some ever grand design for a smooth, worthy election process, I did not witness it here....

Video Source: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6873834#utm_campaign=unknown&utm_source=6873834&utm_medium=social

Hostile territory EDITORIAL 05/14/2010

Hostile territory

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/14/2010 Sen. Noynoy Aquino, who is leading in the unofficial presidential tally, should rethink his exclusive stance on the presidency as if he, the comebacking civil socialites, and the Liberal Party (LP) would be all that is needed to run the country. So far, Noynoy, yet to be officially proclaimed president-elect, has shown very poor leadership skills as well as a cluelessness of just what government and its co-equal branches entail.  He has already picked a fight with the potential leader of the House of Representatives, the ever-scheming Gloria Arroyo, and Gloria’s anointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. That makes him a likely enemy of already one and a half of the other two branches of government. Noynoy said Wednesday that Gloria will not be allowed to get away with her misdeeds in the past nine years while he warned Corona, indirectly through Simeon Marcelo who seems to be positioning himself for a juicy Cabinet post, that he may be violating the Constitution if he accepts Gloria’s appointment when Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires three days from now. Even during his candidacy, Noynoy said he will not recognize the Chief Justice appointed by Gloria. The results of the recent elections show a predominant Nacionalista Party-Nationalist People’s Coalition and Lakas-Kampi-CMD members of the House of Representatives.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100514com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Hostile territory FRONTLINE Dumb focus Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis NO HOLDS BARRED Yet another postscript SILVER LINING Mayor Vice DIE HARD III Con men rush their victims

Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud 05/14/2010

Comelec admits errors in PCOS count, transmission of ERs Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud 05/14/2010 Speed there certainly was, in giving out the election returns via the precinct count, but accuracy of the vote count certainly appears to have failed, giving rise to massive electronic poll fraud marking the country’s first automated elections. The election lawyer of former President Joseph Estrada, George Erwin Garcia, yesterday bared before reporters the information that he would be presenting strong evidence of discrepancies in the electronicaly transmitted poll results of the 2010 elections before the proper forum, which is the congressional canvass board, which will be constituted once Congress convenes as the National Board of Canvassers (NBoC) to canvass the votes for president and vice president. The camp of Estrada, as well as the camps of three other presidential candidates, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and JC de los Reyes, also at a press conference yesterday bared that they, too, have evidence of massive automated fraud which they also plan to bare before the congressional body, as well as ask Congress to conduct a manual audit of the votes. Garcia also said they will be asking Congress not to rely solely on the electronically transmitted results when it convenes as the NboC, scheduled on May 31. “We will be presenting evidence, documents and people as well as affidavits to prove that there were election irregularities. And this will have to reflect on the credibility of the elections,” Garcia stressed.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100514hed1.html

HEADLINES Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud ‘Potential’ president Noynoy risks impeachment — Palace JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp

JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules By Charlie V.Manalo and Aycth S. de la Cruz 05/14/2010

JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules

By Charlie V.Manalo and Aycth S. de la Cruz 05/14/2010 Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles are set to meet today for discussions on the possibility of Congress convening early as a national canvassing body to canvass the votes of the president and vice president and proclaim the winners of the presidential race. Nograles yesterday bared he is seriously considering the proposal of the Senate President for an early convening of the joint session of Congress, even as he praised the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Smartmatic Inc. for conducting the first ever nationwide automated elections in the Philippines. But Nograles said that he may also ask the House special congressional oversight committee on poll automation to immediately conduct a random manual audit of ballots in certain clustered precincts nationwide to dispute public allegations that so many of Smartmatic’s precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines have been pre-programmed to favor certain candidates. As originally scheduled, Congress will resume session on May 31.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100514hed3.html

HEADLINES Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud ‘Potential’ president Noynoy risks impeachment — Palace JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp

Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/14/2010

Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/14/2010 President Arroyo’s chances for the Speakership title now that she has already been proclaimed a representative-elect for the second district of Pampanga will be determined by the composition of members in the 15th Congress, a Malacañang official yesterday said. Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo told reporters in a post-briefing interview that Arroyo’s fate to lead the 15th Congress will be dependent on the political alignments of the would-be members in the lower chamber. He, however, stressed that people may still expect Arroyo to continue wielding political influence across the country just like her predecessors and even more so since she will be joining the House soon. “It’s a fact that if people who may not have official positions do wield a fair amount of clout in the political arena or in society. You have former Presidents Corazon “Cory” Aquino, when she was alive, and Fidel Ramos who continue to wield great influence even when they were not holding political or official positions,” Saludo said.....MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100514hed4.html

HEADLINES Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud ‘Potential’ president Noynoy risks impeachment — Palace JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp

LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp By Gerry Baldo

LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp

By Gerry Baldo 05/14/2010 The Liberal Party’s claim that Sen. Manuel Roxas II is now leading by more than two million votes over Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) vice presidential bet Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay is misleading as most of those have already been counted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). According to Lito Anzures, Binay’s spokes-man, more than 80 percent of the alleged votes that came from Western and Central Visayas have already been tallied and reflected in the count. “Part of the (the 2.1 million) has already reached the Comelec. If they are claiming otherwise, how come it was not transmitted?” Anzures yesterday stressed. He said if the results for the vice presidential race are tainted then the results for the presidential race would also be tainted. Binay’s camp questioned the figures released by the LP even as it said the results should have been already transmitted with the results of the elections in the local positions because these are counted by the PCOS machines simultaneously.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100514hed5.html

HEADLINES Estrada camp, others warn of massive poll fraud Potential’ president Noynoy risks impeachment — Palace JPE, Nograles meet on early convening, canvassing rules Expect GMA to continue wielding political clout — Malacañang LP’s claim of Roxas’ 2-M lead improbable — Binay camp

Romulo calls for snub of ‘farce’ Myanmar elections 05/14/2010

Romulo calls for snub of ‘farce’ Myanmar elections

05/14/2010 Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday said the government should not send poll observers to Myanmar because the upcoming elections in the military-ruled Southeast Asian state is just a “farce.” The United States and the European Union have aired doubts whether the scheduled elections in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) would be credible as they continue to urge the junta to engage the opposition and ethnic minorities. If it would push through, this year’s elections in Myanmar would be the first since 1990.  Detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won the last polls by a landslide. She, however, was prevented from taking office by the junta government. “This is my personal opinion. But what are you going to observe (when the elections are) a farce, a game. (The Myanmar government are holding elections) like children are playing games,” Romulo told reporters..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100514nat3.html

NATION AFP wages all-out war vs NPA in ComVal Military: No soldiers were involved in poll fraud this time Romulo calls for snub of ‘farce’ Myanmar elections Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow Proclamation of NV, Isabela, Batanes local bets delayed Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow

Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow 05/14/2010

Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow

05/14/2010 The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said it is looking to proclaim the winning senatorial candidates tomorrow. But Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the poll body would merely be making a partial proclamation as the other winners have yet to be officially determined. Larrazabal said if ever the plan pushes through, may be only the top six winners will be proclaimed by the Comelec. “It would all depend on the (decision of the Comelec) en banc,” he said. Meanwhile, the proclamation of the winning party-list organizations cannot still be known as the winners are determined through the total number of votes cast for the party-list polls. In yesterday’s partial and official tally, the seven-man en banc panel of the Comelec, which is sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBoC), has tallied 60 out of the 274 provincial certificates of canvass, or 21.89 percent of the total. Based on the tally, still leading was administration re-electionist Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who garnered 11,053,981 votes so far, followed by another re-electionist, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who got 10,631,692 votes so far.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100514nat6.html

NATION AFP wages all-out war vs NPA in ComVal Military: No soldiers were involved in poll fraud this time Romulo calls for snub of ‘farce’ Myanmar elections Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow Proclamation of NV, Isabela, Batanes local bets delayed Comelec eyes to proclaim Senate race winners tomorrow

Dumb FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/14/2010

Dumb

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/14/2010 Noynoy Aquino has become more arrogant than ever, which stance really bodes ill for the nation. Just the other day, he again raised his threat not to recognize the new Chief Justice chosen by Gloria Arroyo, Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Renato Corona, and also said that it was “inappropriate” for Gloria to appoint the new CJ, as it is the right of the new president (meaning himself) to appoint a CJ of his choice. Either Noynoy can’t get it constitutionally right, no matter how many times it has been pounded on his balding head, or he just refuses to abide by constitutional rules, deluded into believing the presidency and its powers are the be-all and end-all. Just what makes Noynoy think that it is his right, and not Gloria’s, to appoint the next CJ? Who is the sole interpreter and arbiter of the law? The president of the republic or the SC? Who the heck does Noynoy think he is? Hello, he has not even been proclaimed president-elect and he thinks he is higher than the law itself!....MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100514com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Hostile territory FRONTLINE Dumb focus Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis NO HOLDS BARRED Yet another postscript SILVER LINING Mayor Vice DIE HARD III Con men rush their victims

Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis focus 05/14/2010

Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis

focus 05/14/2010 HANOI — Southeast Asian leaders have raised concerns about regional stability in the wake of Thailand’s political crisis, in what observers say is the latest sign the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc is slowly easing its policy of non-interference in the affairs of member states. Weeks of mass rallies by “Red Shirt” anti-government protesters have paralyzed parts of Bangkok, and erupted into bouts of violence that left 29 persons dead and 1,000 injured, the deadliest civil unrest in two decades. Vietnam, which currently chairs the Asean, told Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya last week that stability in the kingdom was also in the “common interest” of its neighbors. As chair Vietnam had to say something about the crisis, but critics might argue it could have gone further, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore (ISEAS)....MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100514com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Hostile territory FRONTLINE Dumb focus Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis NO HOLDS BARRED Yet another postscript SILVER LINING Mayor Vice DIE HARD III Con men rush their victims

Yet another postscript NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/14/2010

Yet another postscript

NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/14/2010 Wednesday after the elections, Conrado de Quiros said in his column that he was eating his words, “eating crow, eating humble pie” and that he didn’t mind saying he was wrong about what he had said about automation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners, Jose Melo, and Smartmatic, who “did a fantastic job despite an un-fantastic past. I owe them my deepest apologies.” I’ve admitted in this same space the automated elections system didn’t turn out as badly, but with due respect to Mr. De Quiros, I can’t apologize to anyone remotely connected to the Comelec, not even for this “fantastic job.” The Comelec will first have to admit to this lola its participation in the electoral fraud of 2004 and lay out in full detail how Virgilio Garcillano got away with giving his phone pal “ang dagdag, ang dagdag” with the connivance of the military, the Ebdanes and Esperons so frequently mentioned throughout the recorded conversations. Or the gains of the last electoral exercise mean nothing at all. As I write, election operators are conferring, devising ways and means kung paano paiikutan ang sistema ng botohan na ganito kabilis ang bilangan. Thrown outside the kulambo by the speed and transparency of the computerized poll count, the nefarious will ensure they are back in business in 2013, in order to establish themselves as experts in (digital) vote-stealing in the next presidential polls in 2016.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100514com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Hostile territory FRONTLINE Dumb focus Asean vents concerns over Thai crisis NO HOLDS BARRED Yet another postscript SILVER LINING Mayor Vice DIE HARD III Con men rush their victims