2007 Philippine Election Update: 05-31-07
In the past few days, there is something all too clear, the counting of votes have slowed down, and cheating in Lanao and Maguindanao as well as other parts of Mindanao is coming to light. The Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento has been caught in the midst of one of the biggest stories to come out of this election season. Meanwhile, today’s headline for the Inquirer is Mike Defensor conceding defeat.
I reacted quite harshly with regards to this announcement by Mike Defensor over at Ellen’s Blog
I would’ve considered Mike a class act if he hadn’t stood by this Administration for as long as he did. To this day he has not acknowledged the wrongs that Gloria has done to the people including, but not limited to, the ‘Hello Garci’ controversy.
Even a thief sometimes does not kill the inhabitants in the house, is that thief noble in his pursuit?
Mike has not even begun to do the heavy work in cleaning up his name.. Although this concession is a class act, anything less than a denunciation of the current President will fall on deaf ears.
Despite all of this, TEAM Unity has threatened to file around 130 cases against GO, all pointing to cheating. Of which, none of the allegations are meant to be specific, but are probably all delay tactics so that they too can get into the game of pointing fingers.
The most recent story is that the Comelec has ordered a Maguindanao re-canvass, but fail to give information just where the COCs are going to come from, and the fact that no one has seen any of these COCs. The main point that I have been trying to relay to our readers is that the Maguindanao election returns, municipal COCs and other documents have yet to be seen. Despite the vague statement, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos has proceeded to set up a special Provincial Board of Canvassers just for Maguindanao and that re-canvassing will take place.
Again, as I predicted, no real investigation has taken place, and counting will resume. As to where these COCs will come from, and if the “special” Provincial Board of Canvassers will look into the matter of investigating the documents down to the level of Election Returns, let’s see how they will handle it.
Other important stories that have come out in the past few days also include a Genuine Opposition Manifesto with regards to: A call for a Clean, Honest, Quick and Transparent Counting of the Votes
And lastly, in connection with the Sarmiento Controversy, Ricky Carandang and Noel Alamar have received death threats
I can barely sleep with all these damn smoke screens meant to derail the democratic process. Manuel does a fine job in consolidating these reports into one blog post.
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Nick,
Many of our fellowmen will see Defensor’s act of conceding his defeat as some kind of class act. I attribute this to two things: one because there’s been so much crass act by the people in Gloria’s entourage that they are thankful for little mercies when they happen, two, question of values. Sorry to say this, but I believe that people’s values have been so misplaced these last so many years that people forget don’t know anymore how to measure the good against the bad.
the latter of the two points is not surprising to say the least. I’ve often been told by friends and family that the politicians have brainwashed the population so much that even vote buying has become the norm, cheating has become a job in itself, and that government institutions are just high class corruption institutions.
clearly the values and ethics have been diluted with the values that many politicians live by, but I think the private sector has seen a rise in nobility in forms of citizen groups and even media personalities such as Ricky himself who are holding these acts as immoral.
In the end, I feel that at the core, we have a moral compass within that guides us and tells us what is wrong and what is right. And even though this Gloria Regime has taken its toll on this compass.. this administration is not immortal, but our sense of right and wrong is..
This is why, we must, as soon as possible do away with the current administration. It has become a cancer to our value system.
@ADB,
Thank you for your insights. I always appreciate it. Your current comment is very insightful.
Stupid Genuine Opposition should really stop delaying the process and let Comelec do their job. sheeeesh, what a bunch of whiners. File the necessary complaints so that we can actually see them in writing. personally, I think Mike Defensor is one of the best public servants we have, and I only wish he won. His announcement only shows just how great a person he is, even in defeat.