Monitors hit transparency lack 03/14/2010

COMELEC ASKED TO REVEAL ‘BACK-UP’ PLAN Monitors hit transparency lack 03/14/2010 A high-level multinational group of election observers yesterday criticized the government for “insufficient” transparency on the new automated voting system. The mission organized by the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) said at the end of a week-long visit that the poll body Commission on Elections (Comelec) should do more to ensure the machines, which are to be used for the first time to count ballots and pool and transmit results from more than 350,000 precincts, are fraud-proof and have adequate backup. It, however, recognized “substantial efforts” being made to improve on previous elections, which it said had frequently been marked by “violence, intimidation and widespread fraud.” “The perception, whether fair or not, is that the Comelec has not done so. When it concerns elections, perceptions can be as important as reality,” it said... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100314hed1.html

HEADLINES Monitors hit transparency lack Power supply uncertain during Pacquiao match US flays RP for failing to penalize corrupt officials Aquino ally blocks Erap rally in Cavite Reds rob Nograles’ supporters, set off roadside bomb vs troops Political rival behind smear drive against SC justice — Velasco camp

Aquino ally blocks Erap rally in Cavite Gerry Baldo 03/14/2010

Aquino ally blocks Erap rally in Cavite Gerry Baldo 03/14/2010 The Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)-United Opposition (UNO) ticket of former President Joseph Estrada was nearly prevented yesterday from holding its campaign rally in Cavite and accused Cavite Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, who is allied with the Liberal Party (LP) of presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, of blocking the planned assembly. According to Estrada’s camp, the PMP-UNO requested a rally to be held at the town plaza in Cavite but this was rejected by Maliksi, saying that another group had a scheduled assembly at the place. An advance team of the Estrada entourage then asked if the rally could be held in an area near the plaza but still Maliksi allegedly rejected the request. Failing to secure a permit from Maliksi to hold the rally in the two requested areas, Estrada’s group then said that they will instead head straight to the public market to complete the planned campaign sortie but this was also rejected by Maliksi, the PMP-UNO said in a statement. Estrada’s group finally settled for a covered basketball court in Bgy. Magdalo to hold the PMP-UNO rally which has a capacity of only 3,000 persons.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100314hed4.html

HEADLINES Monitors hit transparency lack Power supply uncertain during Pacquiao match US flays RP for failing to penalize corrupt officials Aquino ally blocks Erap rally in Cavite Reds rob Nograles’ supporters, set off roadside bomb vs troops Political rival behind smear drive against SC justice — Velasco camp

Worn out money-making ploys EDITORIAL 03/14/2010

Worn out money-making ploys EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 03/14/2010 Nearly always, the declaration of a state of emergency or calamity, as in the case of Mindanao recently, suspicions always emerge that something sinister is afoot. Under Gloria, a hidden agenda is always a certainty for such opportunities to exploit power and position. The Palace initially tried to hammer out emergency powers for Gloria by invoking a provision in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) that would allow her to fast-track the signing of contracts with power plant operators, which under the current set up, needs the bidding process which can take years to complete. The Epira, however, requires that Congress affirms the granting of emergency powers as a result of lack of electricity. But with most legislators in the campaign stump and with all of them trying their best to erase any tracks they have leading to Gloria to avoid her political kiss of death, the chance of holding a special session to grant Gloria emergency powers was almost nil..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20100314com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Worn out money-making ploys FRONTLINE No credibility ENQUIRY Senator Tatad and the surveys BLURBAL THRUSTS Malacañang stays PASG abolition TABLETS OF STONE Nothing but creepy VIEWPOINTS May 10 poll watchers FEATURE Nazi naval relic pits salvage operator against Berlin FEATURE Pope OK’d housing pedophile priest — diocese

No credibility FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/14/2010

No credibility FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 03/14/2010 It all depends on the questions asked, and how they were asked, apart from other ways and means to come up with a skewed survey result. A survey by the Campaign and Images Group (CIG), which was said to have been commissioned by foreign-based companies in the country, showed administration presidential candidate, Gilbert Teodoro, leapfrogging to second place with a 24 percent score, behind Nacionalista Party presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar, who obtained 31 percent in the same survey. Liberal Party Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino was third with 20 percent, while former President Joseph Estrada placed fourth with 13 percent. .... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20100314com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Worn out money-making ploys FRONTLINE No credibility ENQUIRY Senator Tatad and the surveys BLURBAL THRUSTS Malacañang stays PASG abolition TABLETS OF STONE Nothing but creepy VIEWPOINTS May 10 poll watchers FEATURE Nazi naval relic pits salvage operator against Berlin FEATURE Pope OK’d housing pedophile priest — diocese