Salungguhit: Panic Time by Flon Faurillo Bulatlat.com

Salungguhit: Panic Time
 


All the assurances and bravado of the Comelec amounted to nothing when the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines encountered a lot of problems during testing a few days before the elections. It now remains to be seen if the country would have its first successful automated elections on May 10, but if the recent trial runs are to be the gauge, it would most probably be a disaster on election day.
 
By FLON FAURILLO

More Salungguhit editorial cartoons

 

(Reprinted with permission from Bulatlat.com)


Source:  Bulatlat.com


URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/05/08/salungguhit-panic-time/

Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP 05/08/2010

Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP

05/08/2010 Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidates Francisco “Kit” Tatad, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “ompong” Plaza and businessman Joey de Venecia yesterday called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to examine thoroughly the flash cards that have been discarded by its partner Smartmatic Corp. The senatorial candidates of the opposition PMP said what is inside the flash cards must have something to do with the way it performed before Smartmatic decided to pull them out and replace them with new ones. “The Comelec should look into the flash cards before it is discarded,” Plaza said yesterday. Smartmatic had recalled all 76,000 flash cards installed in its precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines because of its failure to accurately count the votes indicated in the ballots. On testing in several cities and municipalities the PCOS machines had failed to count the votes of some candidates. Tatad and Plaza said that there must be some programs in the flash cards that caused the PCOS machines to fail and that it should be investigated. In a press conference on Wednesday former President Estrada expressed dismay at the performance of the PCOS machines which were tested in several cities in Metro Manila.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100508hed3.html

HEADLINES SC junks postponement pleas Arroyo exec ‘breaches’ RP’s One-China policy Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls

Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp 05/08/2010

Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp

05/08/2010 The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) yesterday said that any attempt to project Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Noynoy Aquino as unbeatable, simply based on the recently-released Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia surveys would fail as their results are way off the mark based on “realities on the ground.” Although Aquino still maintained a lead over his opponents, PMP spokesman Ralph Calinisan said it was not with a wide margin and has even become questionable when ranged against the enormous turnout of supporters at every one of PMP standard bearer former President Joseph Estrada’s campaign sorties and rallies. “Two or three thousand respondents in Pulse Asia and SWS surveys as against the tens of thousands who welcome President Estrada in his visits around the country? Which is more realistic, and more reflective of what is actually happening at the grassroots level?” Calinisan stressed. Even the LP’s own internal survey, which Calinisan claimed party officials refuse to publicly divulge, belied SWS’ numbers and clearly showed Aquino leading Estrada by a margin of only 5 percent. “Interestingly, the PMP’s own survey showed Noynoy at 34-percent, and Estrada at 29- percent, a margin of only 5 percent,” Calinisan revealed...MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100508hed4.html

HEADLINES SC junks postponement pleas Arroyo exec ‘breaches’ RP’s One-China policy Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls

LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure By Angie M. Rosales 05/08/2010

 LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure

By Angie M. Rosales 05/08/2010 “I wouldn’t dare ask him, and neither will he ask me to disclose where the campaign funds come from.” This was the gist of the response made by Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Noynoy Aquino when he was asked whether he will compel his colleague and supporter, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, to disclose his campaign benefactors. Escudero, while not a member of LP, is publicly known to be heavily involved in Aquino’s campaign, having contributed largely to Aquino’s campaign war chest and even using his Senate staff to run the media coverage of the party, sources said. “Is Chiz spending public money to fund Aquino’s campaign from his (Escudero’s) end? He is already getting his Senate staffers to help out in Noynoy’s campaign — even when that is not part of the job that they have been hired,” a Senate staffer told the Tribune yesterday. A number of Escudero’s staff members have been detailed to the LP, specifically in the media bureau of the LP party..... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100508hed5.html

HEADLINES SC junks postponement pleas Arroyo exec ‘breaches’ RP’s One-China policy Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls

Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls By Marie Surbano and Michaela P. del Callar 05/08/2010

Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls

By Marie Surbano and Michaela P. del Callar 05/08/2010 More than 500 foreign observers are in the country to observe the general elections this Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday reported. According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, around 364 foreign observers and 159 foreign media have registered with the Comelec’s Education and Information Department for this year’s electoral exercise. Jimenez added that almost of all of the foreign embassies will send their representatives to observe the elections. The government of Japan also has joined several countries in deploying poll observers to the country to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections on May 10.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100508hed6.html

HEADLINES SC junks postponement pleas Arroyo exec ‘breaches’ RP’s One-China policy Comelec should look into discarded CF cards — PMP Noynoy not sure winner—Erap camp LP bet, Chiz reject campaign donors disclosure Over 500 foreign observers deployed for RP’s polls

PNP, lawyers’ group tie-up to safeguard elections 05/08/2010

PNP, lawyers’ group tie-up to safeguard elections

05/08/2010 The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday signed a partnership agreement with a lawyers’ group to safeguard the holding of clean, honest, orderly and credible elections on Monday. The PNP and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) forged a memorandum of agreement (MoA) at the PNP main headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City for a stronger police-civil society partnership in safeguarding the forthcoming national elections.   PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa welcomed the newly forged partnership with Lente as a manifestation of active citizen support to the PNP’s initiatives under its advocacy for “Hope,” an acronym for honest, orderly and peaceful elections.  Lente is a Commission on Elections-accredited citizens’ arm composed of lawyers, law students, and paralegal volunteers from 44 law schools, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the poll watchdog National Movement for Free Elections. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is its lead convenor.  Lente honorary chairman, lawyer Christian Monsod said Lente is a coalition of various non-partisan groups organized to monitor election activities, including the canvassing and tallying of votes in cities, municipalities and provinces around the country, to help protect the integrity of the electoral process and to deter commission of fraudulent acts.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100508nat2.html

NATION Bangit issues final orders to commanders on ‘E Day’ PNP, lawyers’ group tie-up to safeguard elections DoJ bares P55M aid fund for massacre victims’ kin ZenCom seeks end to political dynasties, private armies

ZenCom seeks end to political dynasties, private armies By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/08/2010

ZenCom seeks end to political dynasties, private armies

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 05/08/2010 An end to political dynasties in the country that in turn would cause for private armed groups (PAGs) being maintained by some local politicians to be done away with should be among the measures that the 15th Congress must pass, the Zenarosa Commission (ZenCom) has said. In a fresh list of recommendations he submitted yesterday to President Arroyo, ZenCom commissioner Herman Basbaño enumerated several bills that the body plans to propose to the next Congress when it opens session upon the installation of the next administration. Basbaño said the ZenCom will strongly lobby for the Anti-Political Dynasty Law once Congress opens, adding the members of the commission hope that Arroyo herself will support it along with the body’s other proposals when she wins a seat in the lower House representing the second district of Pampanga province, where her hometown is. “I know that it will be not that easy for us to have this Anti-Political Dynasty Law passed, but I think we have to campaign to these public officials, (these) legislators in Congress and the Senate, to do so if they are really after the good of the country. Because this does not only create problems (as it cultivates the existence of) private armies, but as well as other problems for our nation,” Basbaño said. Incidentally, the Arroyos are among the clans that are currently maintaining political dynasties in the country. Aside from her being President, Arroyo has two sons and a brother-in-law in Congress. She, however, is expected to soon join them and other relatives in the lower House as she is seen to win in her electoral bid.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100508nat4.html

NATION Bangit issues final orders to commanders on ‘E Day ’PNP, lawyers’ group tie-up to safeguard elections DoJ bares P55M aid fund for massacre victims’ kin ZenCom seeks end to political dynasties, private armies

Too little, too late EDITORIAL 05/08/2010

Too little, too late

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/08/2010 It may have come too little and too late. The Supreme Court (SC) the other day ordered the Commission on Elections to disclose all its preparations for the country’s first automated polls for Monday, giving the Comelec two days to do so, upon receipt of the order. If the order was received Thursday — which is impossible, since even the media got hold of the SC order after office hours Thursday — this means that Comelec will have to disclose all the items ordered by the high court by Saturday at the latest. If this order was received Friday, assuming this was hand delivered, the Comelec will have to disclose all these by Sunday — or a day before the polls. Either date, Saturday, Sunday, or even Monday, would be much too late for any IT group to do a thorough study of whatever study is needed.  The information the Comelec needs to reveal is a lot as this includes the nature and security of all equipment devices such as software and hardware components, source code for review by interested parties; the terms and protocols of the random manual audit; and certification from the technical evaluation committee that the entire automated system is fully functional and that the continuity plan is already in place.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100508com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Too little, too late FRONTLINE Leaks for mind-conditioning SILVER LINING Leap of faith

Leaks for mind-conditioning FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/08/2010

Leaks for mind-conditioning

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/08/2010 If there was any doubt that the Social Weather Stations (SWS) was into mind-conditioning, and perhaps even manipulating the results of a presidential candidate that it is supporting, doubt no more. There can hardly be any doubt left today — not after the still dubious survey results that were supposed to be embargoed for a newspaper, the BusinessWorld, to print for Friday’s issue, were deliberately leaked to the Liberal Party standard bearer, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, in time for the other media establishments to quickly carry the results, showing the LP bet widening his lead, with a 42 percent survey score. It was reportedly Kris Aquino, sister to Noynoy, who flashed the results in her Twitter account. How else could she have gotten these results? There are only two possible sources: One, BusinessWorld itself, which would be pretty stupid on the newspapers’ part, since it has exclusive rights to the survey results and would have lost out to the electronic media — in the sense that the electronic media, that do not have exclusivity rights, had robbed BusinessWorld of its exclusive story on the survey results; and two, SWS itself, leaking the embargoed results to Aquino.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100508com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Too little, too late FRONTLINE Leaks for mind-conditioning SILVER LINING Leap of faith

Leap of faith SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 05/08/2010

Leap of faith

SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 05/08/2010 With just three days to go before the nation elects a new President, tension, anxiety and paranoia are expected. This is exactly the time when supporters are on heightened alert promoting or countering last minute black operations, imagined or real. Disunity and acrimony — the usual toll of election day eve. This election day eve is different. The jitters have arrived on schedule but it is not our opponents we are wary of. Rather, supporters of all colors — for so long divided — have found themselves united against a common foe. Instead of worrying about winning, we now worry about whether we will have elections at all. It has become orange, yellow and green against black. Even under the best of circumstances, accepting the results of a general election has always required a leap of faith. No effort, however gargantuan, can guarantee 100 percent accuracy in determining the people’s will. It is their acquiescence in the outcome that is the ultimate verdict of whether the electoral exercise was successful, regardless of glitches. With the events of recent days, it is now clear to many that Monday’s scheduled election is going to need the longest leap of faith.  The nation has heard Chairman Jose Melo’s assurance that all efforts are being done to make Monday’s polls proceed without a hitch/glitch. Scheduled for today, May 8, is a general meeting with all candidates and political parties to address concerns on automation. And the commission has just instructed that “testing and sealing” dry runs with the newly reconfigured flash cards continue until tomorrow, May 9. But we will continue to seek out peace of mind.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100508com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Too little, too late FRONTLINE Leaks for mind-conditioning SILVER LINING Leap of faith

SC orders Comelec: Disclose auto polls preparation details By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/07/2010

Citing alarming developments SC orders Comelec: Disclose auto polls preparation details By Benjamin B. Pulta and Angie M. Rosales 05/07/2010 The Supreme Court (SC), alarmed at the developments that were marked by automated machine glitches, and the error-prone flash cards changes, yesterday ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disclose details of its preparations for the polls on Monday, for the country’s first automated elections. Citing “alarming developments” the SC voting 12 to 3, ruled to partially grant a taxpayer suit by a group led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. In its 20-page resolution by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the SC upheld the right of petitioners to information on the poll automation, which it said is “a matter of great public concern.” Eleven other magistrates, including outgoing Chief Justice Reynato Puno, concurred in the ruling. Three others — Senior Associate Justice Renato  Corona and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Roberto Abad — dissented.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100507hed1.html

HEADLINES SC orders Comelec: Disclose auto polls preparation details Erap set to ask high court to postpone polls SWS releases BW survey results to Noynoy SC nullifies NP-NPC coalition Delay looms in counting of 3M votes Australia, UK, Canada warn citizens in RP on poll violence

Erap set to ask high court to postpone polls By Gerry Baldo 05/07/2010

Erap set to ask high court to postpone polls

By Gerry Baldo 05/07/2010 Former President Estrada, standard bearer of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), is set to ask the Supreme Court (SC) to prevent the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from holding the election on May 10 next week and for the poll body to prepare for a manual counting of votes as a fallback position in the event the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines fail. Estrada, at a press conference at the Club Filipino yesterday, said there should be provisions for a manual counting of votes to ensure that there would be no failure of election. Estrada was with PMP senatorial candidates including Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza; former Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario “Jun’ Lozada; former Sen. Francisco “Kit” Tatad; businessman Joey de Venecia; reelectionist Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile; and former Sanlakas Rep. JV Bautista. Local candidates of the PMP were also present during the press conference including, Ilocos Sur gubernatorial bet Rambo Rafanan, Quezon City mayoralty bet Annie Rose Susano, Makati mayoralty bet Junjun Binay, and Pasay City mayoralty bet Connie Dy.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100507hed2.html

HEADLINES SC orders Comelec: Disclose auto polls preparation details Erap set to ask high court to postpone polls SWS releases BW survey results to Noynoy SC nullifies NP-NPC coalition Delay looms in counting of 3M votes Australia, UK, Canada warn citizens in RP on poll violence

SWS releases BW survey results to Noynoy 05/07/2010

SWS releases BW survey results to Noynoy

05/07/2010 Is a known pollster rushing a last minute mind conditioning for a bandwagon status on the candidacy of Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Noynoy Aquino? What should have been commissioned items by BusinessWorld under a Social Weather Stations (SWS) partnership in 2010 pre-election surveys, with BW getting the exclusive first print right, appeared to have been breached, with the latest two day SWS survey results leaked out to Aquino, and posted by his sister, Kris Aquino-Yap, in her official Twitter account, and with all the media coming out with the results even before BusinessWorld is given the opportunity to do so. The survey, said to have been conducted from May 2 to 3, with a respondents base of some 2,400 nationwide, showed Aquino obtaining 42 percent, or a 4 percentage point increase from the May 16 to 19 SWS survey. Former President Joseph Estrada dislodged Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, to land in second place, with Estrada obtaining a 3 percentage point increase, measured at 20 percent from a previous 17 percent. Other surveys have shown Estrada to have more than the score SWS normally gives him, even when the surveys are conducted at about the same time.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100507hed3.html

HEADLINES SC orders Comelec: Disclose auto polls preparation details Erap set to ask high court to postpone polls SWS releases BW survey results to Noynoy SC nullifies NP-NPC coalition Delay looms in counting of 3M votes Australia, UK, Canada warn citizens in RP on poll violence

AFP says Reds out to push failure of polls By Mario J. Mallari 05/07/2010

AFP says Reds out to push failure of polls

By Mario J. Mallari 05/07/2010 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday said the “extreme Left” or the communist group are the ones pushing for a failure of elections, allegedly by the intensification of its armed wing’s harassment of local candidates and by sabotaging the poll preparations, to further their cause to seize power from the government. Only yesterday morning, New People’s Army (NPA) rebels bombed a convoy of vehicles traveling through a town in in Masbate province while carrying precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines which were to be delivered in polling precincts where they will be used in the first-ever automated national elections in the country on Monday. Members of the Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion (IB), led by Major Esteveyn Ducusin and Major Michael Licyayo, were escorting representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at around 10:35 a.m. when a roadside bomb exploded along Sitio Busay, Barangay Pawikan in Palanas town. An Army truck was damaged in the attack, but the Army escorts were unharmed and their cargo was intact, the military said.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune   URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100507nat1.html

NATION AFP says Reds out to push failure of polls National security body tackles ‘threats’ to polls Gov’t, MILF forge two more pacts in Malaysia Comelec upholds ruling declaring Pineda Pampanga gov DFA: State acting to curb use of OFWs as drug mules

Works of evils EDITORIAL 05/07/2010

Works of evils

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/07/2010 A string of disturbing events has occurred the last few days that points to what every Filipino earlier believed in the back of his mind will not happen on Monday, the national elections. Yesterday, Gloria convened the Cabinet to take up the no elections scenario supposedly as a consequence of glitches in the memory cards of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines. At the meeting, police and military officials were asked by Gloria to study the possibility of the elections not being held and the contingency measures for such an event.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

Noynoy can’t hack it FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/07/2010

Noynoy can’t hack it

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 05/07/2010 He wants the presidency, but has virtually admitted that he cannot hack it. Stated differently, he wants to be president of the republic, but does not want to accept responsibility and accountability because he knows he is incapable of handling government. Noynoy Aquino, Liberal Party standard bearer, at a press conference last Wednesday said he will be sharing 80 percent of presidential powers with his running mate, Mar Roxas. Noynoy was quoted as saying in a broadsheet that “I am sharing 50 percent to 80 percent of the job (of the presidency) with my one and only partner Mar Roxas, and I am offering him not just one, but several portfolios in an oversight capacity.” Then he added: “But let me make it clear that Senator Mar has not asked for any portfolio and this is also not a request. I call this a division of labor, which we have agreed on from the start.” The tasks of the presidency are never a division of labor. Nor can the presidency’s functions and duties be shared with any other official — including his vice president.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment focus 05/07/2010

For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment

focus 05/07/2010 SILVER SPRING — Across from a counter serving up heaping plates of kabobs and curries, Zahid Hussain scrolled through his phone for messages from fellow Pakistani-Americans. The topic was hardly a surprise. “Pakistanis are afraid. When they see on television, ‘Pakistani terrorist in Times Square,’ they just want to hide their face,” Hussain said at a brightly lit Pakistani restaurant in suburban Washington. Hussain, who publishes a local Urdu-language newspaper, said he spoke with his school-age children after hearing that a Pakistani-American, Faisal Shahzad, was arrested in Saturday’s plot to sow destruction in one of New York’s busiest intersections. Hussain immigrated to the United States in 2003 and said his children had once even asked if they could change their names due to the image of their homeland in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune   URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

The swellheads NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/07/2010

The swellheads

NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 05/07/2010 And they are many, littering the political landscape, strutting as if sure winners, treating us like dirt. Fortunately, karma in this digital age moves just as fast. We take note of the affected, the weekend before the elections. Initially hit, and oh, so clearly, is Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer, Sen. Manuel Villar. Early on ranked number one in the surveys — if you believe in surveys, which is altogether another issue — look at him now. Oh, what a fall. As op-ed columnists, coffee shop wags and pundits outrace each other analyzing what went wrong with the Villar campaign, those in his payroll — and believe you me, they are legion — are bravely keeping up a brave front. But how to stay upbeat in the face of numbers that have slipped from first to third in the race is a problem. A very big problem. Methinks the tumble began when Villar snubbed the Senate committee of the whole’s investigation into the C-5 transaction, in 2009. He never bothered to honor his peers with his presence, at one time sent word that he was in some far away place but was only actually at the Sofitel; five minutes later and soon after the session had been adjourned he turned up to meet the media in an “impromptu” press conference to “defend” himself — that’s when he fell down the wall and all the wannabe president’s men couldn’t put Humpty-Dumpty together again.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

Struggle reaps triumphs DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 05/07/2010

Struggle reaps triumphs

DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 05/07/2010 As I projected since the mid-march Magdalo survey, which showed Estrada statistically tied to Aquinorroyo in the National Capital Region (NCR) (with 33 percent to 35.6 percent), leaving Villarroyo behind, Erap would be in dead heat in the race for Number One by election week. Metro Manila sets the tone for the rest of the country and it’s only a matter of time that the NCR shift to Estrada would reach the North and South. The latest in-house survey of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), which has been closely paralleled by the results of the Magdalo, Manila Standard Today, Stratpol and DILG surveys, but with a larger base of 2,400 respondents, shows Estrada at 29 percent versus Aquinorroyo’s 34 percent. The startling fact is that even the Liberal Party (LP) in-house survey, which is already making the rounds, shows Aquinorroyo only 5.8 percent ahead of Estrada five days before the elections. Today, I brought a bottle of red wine to the PMP HQ to celebrate the good tidings. The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) announcement did not faze me because it was victory either way. My debate with Yellow stalwart Mano Alcuaz centered on his point that the INC is simply opportunistic and would go for his candidate. With the INC confirming his argument, I gladly lost because my secularist view won in the confirmation of the true nature of the INC leadership. I discussed this with my radio listeners and told them: “Just like the El Shaddai masses of which 70 percent voted for Erap in their mock elections despite Velarde’s bias for Villar, the INC masses are not blind. Many will quietly vote for their champion. We must talk to the INC masses as separate from their leaders.” Leaders of these religious sects may have a lot in their mind, so it has been stated by political analysts: Personal ambitions, bureaucratic interests and pecuniary matters. Take the Gloria Arroyo faction in the El Shaddai. The 2004 elections had been very profitable for some of the sect’s leaders such as the one appointed chief of the elevated transit corporation. Although these people tried to maneuver things in favor of their chosen bets, the masses still backed the leader they recognized as pro-masa. Thus, in the wake of the INC announcement, with PMP supporters exchanging texts, this sentiment sums it up perfectly: “In 2004, the INC endorsed Gloria Arroyo against FPJ but the latter still won the vote — tough he was cheated.” Of course, Danding Cojuangco was also INC-backed in 1992 and Miriam won the vote, as FVR won the cheating. Another triumph is the collapse of the credibility of the Comelec’s Automated Election System (AES). Comelec law chief lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan used to arrogantly boast of 100 percent success and mocked critics as idle ne’er-do-wells. Ditto for Chairman Jose Melo. Despite universal praises for them, I had to state the truth: That they’re all in on the hoax from the very start. The AES is already a failure today as are the elections because they no longer have the minimum of credibility any election requires. The Comelec will, of course, go through the motions, counting and proclaiming and declaring it successful — leaving protests raging and a nation P11 billion poorer and without any election system to speak of. Let’s not forget the congressmen and senators who rallied behind poll automation, particularly Teddy “Boy” Locsin whom everyone expected to be bright enough to see through the AES farce. In one episode of Carambola, Rep. Boying Remulla practically chastised Locsin for the AES screwing up even the local elections. And just as bad is the “manual count” call of the Yellow election manipulators Namfrel, Makati Business Club, Gus Lagman and company, who will only be trending the elections in favor of their mascot. I don’t see any way to save the AES and the elections. This country really needs to sort out this mess; maybe the junta’s time — of reformist civilians and military — has come to restart the process for honest, credible elections. (Tune in to 1098AM, Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Global News Network, Destiny Cable Channel 21, Talk News TV, Tuesday, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.; also visit http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com) (Reprinted with permission from Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel) Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

The disgraced Nacionalista Party By Ronald Roy COMMENT 05/07/2010

The disgraced Nacionalista Party

By Ronald Roy COMMENT 05/07/2010 The Nacionalista Party (NP) is a disgraced political party because its titular head Manny Villar is its disgraced official candidate for the presidency. Villar aspires for the highest office with a dubious rags-to-riches story that he claims to have taught him the ropes in licking chronic poverty. We can give him the benefit of the doubt here, but certainly not with respect to how he has enriched himself by having allegedly used the influence of his office — first as Speaker of the House of Representatives then as Senate President. And we’re speaking of billions of pesos here, and of documentary evidence not bare speculation. No man can claim any moral ascendancy whose self-respect is suspect. On a question of a conceivable lack of integrity alone, Villar should not be taken seriously — not for the highest office of the land anyway. My father Jose Roy was the NP president for 10 years until he passed away in 1986. He brought dignity to this position in the glorious tradition of his predecessors like Jose P. Laurel and Sergio Osmeña. Gone are their days of statesmanship, delicadeza and altruism. Right after he won a congressional seat in the first district of Tarlac after the war, he gave the restive farmers of Nueva Ecija his only agricultural title covering 971 hectares of rice land. He then proceded to author and sponsor the first post-Commonwealth agrarian reform law, the 70-30 (farmer-hacendero) crop-sharing tenancy act. Thereafter he ventured into the lawmaking field of banks and corporations, ways and means and economic affairs to establish probably the greatest legislative output in history. In close to 30 years in both houses, he never lost an election and was annually chosen as one of 10 most outstanding representatives or six most outstanding senators. That’s why he became NP president, Senate Majority Floor Leader and Senate President Pro-Tempore.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune   URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills FEATURE 05/07/2010

Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills

FEATURE 05/07/2010 BAGHAICHHARI — Bangladesh’s southeastern hills are again simmering with ethnic tension, raising concerns that a fragile peace reached 13 years ago will collapse. Hundreds of ethnic Chakma, a Buddhist tribal group indigenous to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, lost their homes in February when violence broke out between them and Muslim Bengali settlers, prompting a harsh army crackdown. “With the assistance of the army, the settlers came here to attack us,” said Joshna Chakma, who lost her house and says her village has been plagued by violence since Bengali settlers and an army post arrived around two years ago. “Last year, there were 78 houses burned down by the settlers, helped by the army,” said Joshna, who is a member of the local council in the remote Baghaichhari district.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100507com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Works of evils FRONTLINE Noynoy can’t hack it focus For proud Pakistani-US community, an embarrassment NO HOLDS BARRED The swellheads DIE HARD III Struggle reaps triumphs COMMENT The disgraced Nacionalista Party FEATURE Tribal anger rises in Bangladesh’s volatile hills