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Being a political turncoat does not affect a candidate’s chances for election or his credibility as a politician, a belated Social Weather Stations survey released to abs-cbnNEWS.com said Thursday.
According to the survey commissioned by the Ateneo School of Government and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, 49 percent of the respondents have no bad perceptions of political turncoats.
Turncoats, also called “butterflies,” are politicians who transfer allegiance from one party to another to suit his agenda.
The 1, 200 respondents said they feel it is neither good nor bad to change political parties before and after the elections. (More on ABS-CBN news)
(Originally posted at www.abs-cbnnews.com)
Posted March 09, 2007 05:31:00(Mla Time)
Jerome Aning
MANILA, Philippines — Who cares about political parties?
A Social Weather Stations survey shows most Filipinos believe no political party “truly promotes their welfare” and that many people are indifferent to the practice of party-switching by politicians.
Commissioned by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the SWS survey was conducted on Nov. 24-29, 2006, and involved 1,200 respondents — all voting-age adults, including 150 who were not registered voters. (More on Inquirer)
(Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 09, 2007 05:30:00(Mla Time)
Norman Bordadora
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — If there ever were any doubts the vaunted Estrada “magic” was waning, these were put to rest after most of the Genuine Opposition’s senatorial candidates scrambled to get to this city to campaign at ousted president Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s “request.”
“Mindanao is really so close to the heart of President Erap that he called the candidates and asked them to go to Davao,” said Estrada son and GO campaign manager, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito. (More on Inquirer)
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 09, 2007 05:29:00(Mla Time)
Tarra Quismundo Cynthia Balana Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — An organization grouping the country’s provincial governors vowed Thursday to deliver a 12 to 0 victory for the administration’s TEAM Unity in the May senatorial elections.
Members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) unanimously adopted a resolution pledging their unequivocal support for TEAM Unity at a meeting last Wednesday, said Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong, a member of the LPP national executive board. (More on Inquirer)
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
The LPP is chaired by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, a candidate of TEAM Unity.
Posted March 09, 2007 04:09:00(Mla Time)
Norman Bordadora Cynthia Balana
DIGOS, DAVAO DEL SUR — Loren Legarda is not losing sleep over being No. 2 in the latest Social Weather Stations survey on senatorial candidates, and Francis Pangilinan is convinced that his bagging the top slot proves the correctness of his decision to go independent.
Legarda, a candidate of the Genuine Opposition who has consistently topped independent surveys since last year, said the SWS survey’s margin of error could easily override Pangilinan’s 2-percentage-point lead: “Considering the margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent, the No. 1 candidate may actually be No. 2 and the No. 2 candidate may actually be No. 1 as far as the voters’ preference is concerned.” (More on Inquirer)
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 09, 2007 02:09:00(Mla Time)
Allison Lopez Margaux Ortiz
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., a member of the Lakas ruling coalition, is supporting the senatorial bid of Genuine Opposition (GO) candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Belmonte, who declared his support for Noynoy in a meeting with the city’s barangay leaders the other night, cited former President Corazon Aquino’s role in his ascent to public office. Noynoy is Aquino’s only son. (More on Inquirer)
Originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
“On a personal basis, I support him,” Belmonte told reporters.
Posted March 09, 2007 01:16:00(Mla Time)
Amando Doronila
MANILA, Philippines — The poll group Social Weather Stations’ survey on public preferences among senatorial candidates, released on Wednesday, showed the opposition candidates grabbing 9 of 12 slots. The survey results, conducted from Feb. 24 to 27, are the first to be released after the start of the campaign on Feb. 12.
Although issues had not crystallized by the end of February, the results laid bare an undercurrent of anti-administration sentiment nationwide, translating into an early preference for opposition candidates. The results at least represent straws in the wind, which the administration cannot brush aside without courting disaster. (More)
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 08, 2007 23:45:00(Mla Time)
Jhunnex Napallacan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced on Thursday an increase in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares of all the local government units of the country.
The announcement, loudly applauded by councilors attending their national conference here, however took on a political color when Arroyo told the members of the Philippine Councilors’ League, towards the end of her speech, to support the TEAM Unity of the administration coalition.
She said while she was aware that many of the councilors would themselves be busy campaigning for their own electoral bids in May, she had hoped that they would still continue to support the TEAM Unity senatorial slate.
The speech during the opening ceremonies of the PCL 2007 end-term national assembly at the Cebu International Convention Center was the President’s first official statement while in Cebu for two days for various events.
PCL National President Carlo Pontico Fortuna, in an interview, said they were expecting the President to ask for their support for the administration candidates.
“I am allied with the administration, so for me, I would be very happy to assure to the President of my support,” Fortuna said.
President Arroyo’s speech, however, mainly focused on the economic progress the country had made, which, she said, became possible because of the support of the local government officials.
She said it was the first time in the country’s economic history that it had 24 quarters of uninterrupted growth.
The IRA share of the local government units would also increase because of the increase in tax collection, Arroyo said.
The President also announced that the national government had raised by an additional P15 billion the IRA of the LGUs.
She said that with an increase in IRA, LGUs would have more money to help the poorest of the poor in their area.
Arroyo specifically mentioned the payment of health premiums for the poor.
The President arrived in Cebu at noon Thursday and attended the Women’s Congress held at Cebu Provincial capitol. She also paid a visit to the victims of a huge fire that hit two villages in Mandaue City on Wednesday.
On Friday, she will grace the Philippine Development Forum to be held in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in the village of Lahug, this city. The President will depart for nearby Bohol island on Saturday.
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 08, 2007 23:36:00(Mla Time)
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Re-electionist Senator Ralph Recto warned on Thursday about the dire consequences of getting swamped in the May 14 elections based on recent survey findings that pointed towards an opposition-dominated Senate in the 14th Congress.
In a press conference in Tarlac during a break in the TEAM Unity sortie, Recto said that the lack of a working majority in the Senate could stall the country’s economic growth and derail government efforts to spread the wealth to the masses.
Recto said he was worried that if the 9-3 trend in the Social Weather Station would hold up to election day, the opposition would dominate the Senate and “there will be no new budget approved and more investigations will be undertaken against the administration.’’
“I think the people should realize the prospect of having an opposition-dominated Senate,” said Recto.
He said a budget designed for a specific year and not merely re-enacted would be important because it would be the best means for the government to allocate resources by spending more for infrastructure, education, health, and social services.
“The biggest issue to me is redistribution of wealth. When you see a few people benefiting from our economic growth, the idea is how to redistribute this growth. We can do this through budget and allocating the revenues we got from taxes to those in need of these funds,” said Recto.
Recto said the government needed to have eight TEAM Unity members win in the elections to have a working majority in the Senate considering that there were at least four holdovers — Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, and Juan Ponce Enrile — and two undecided — Senators Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon.
“We have a better chance of passing better designed budgets and legislating new reforms to further improve public service and the distribution of wealth in the country. We expect the Senate to be more responsible in calling for more investigations,” said Recto.
Only three TEAM Unity members — Recto, Tito Sotto and Joker Arroyo — landed in the Magic 12 of the Social Weather Stations survey, which validated pre-campaign trends that showed the administration was the underdog in the elections.
Arroyo said that while the opposition appeared to be winning, “it’s just one-fourth of the campaign period and over time, we can overtake the opposition.” Arroyo likened the senatorial derby to the classic race between the turtle and the rabbit where the slow starter eventually won out over the fast starter.
Senatorial candidate and Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit’’ Singson said his group was unaffected by the poor standing of his teammates noting that “the administration has not yet kicked in.”
Senatorial candidate Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said he did not believe in the survey “because anybody can do that.”
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 08, 2007 22:08:00(Mla Time)
Tarra Quismundo
MANILA, Philippines — This team promises to protect every single vote cast in the May elections, from averting cheating, big and small, to ensuring that only quality pens will mark tally sheets.
Touted as a first in the history of Philippine elections, an unprecedented number of non-partisan government agencies, people’s organizations, church and civic groups, and professional and youth organizations came together on Wednesday to discuss and commit to an action plan for the integrity of the midterm elections.
The Philippine Election Forum (PEF) convened on Wednesday for a three-hour final consultation on draft resolutions crafted to address problems such as vote-buying, padded voters’ lists and election returns, underpaid teachers on election duty, and police and military intrusion.
“For me, it is a beautiful indication of the answer to my call that everyone should take…consider this election as part of their duties. This is very encouraging,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Benjamin Abalos.
“People with criminal designs, will not succeed with the force that we have gathered now this morning,” said Abalos.
The collaboration brought together the Comelec, the Philippine National Police (PNP),the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Department of Education (DepEd), the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company and other civic organizations and business groups in a multi-sectoral effort to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
Present in Wednesday’s meeting were PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Avelino Razon and other top police officials, AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon and an entourage of military officials, Namfrel Chair Jose Concepcion Jr. and top volunteers, and representatives from other participating organizations.
“Of course, it will still be the Comelec that will be on top of all of these. These people are merely serving as tentacles, or let me say deputized agencies of Comelec. This is the first time I saw this number of organizations helping the Comelec,” Abalos told reporters.
“And for that, thank you. This is very encouraging… Remember, I have been making that call for several months now for everybody to please help the Comelec, because we cannot do it alone,” said the chairman, who was on the hotseat when the poll body’s credibility came under fire from allegations it took part in rigging the May 2004 elections.
Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner had harsh words for cynics who did not believe the poll body could guarantee clean elections.
“Alas, hopelessness is neither on the Comelec nor on our country — but on them. These people who circulate in the fringes of our society are desperately credulous, forlornly lost and irreparably faithless,” said Brawner in a statement read for him in the forum attended by 200 people.
PEF was assembled in February to heed the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for stakeholders to participate in the conduct of clean elections, said the forum’s secretary general, Virgilio Hernandez.
Meetings were then held by the lead conveners and participating groups to come up with plans of action in six different concern clusters: the electoral process, election workers, security and freedom, transparency and justice, awareness and values, and the media’s role.
“The bishops challenged different stakeholders in elections to make this election clean and honest, because if doesn’t become one, our economy will be affected, there will be political instability, etc,” Hernandez said.
“So everybody now, including government, Namfrel, PPCRV, bishops and business, came together and talked to take up the challenge,” he added.
Education Undersecretary Franklin Sunga, who was among the conveners, said “This is the first time that major stakeholders are bonding for one major concern: that is, to have honest, orderly and peaceful elections.”
Among the proposed activities before and during the elections are the following:
• Posting of the final list of voters in village halls and churches two weeks prior to the elections.
• Early release of electronic copies of voters’ lists and precincts to minimize election day confusion and disenfranchisement. A purge of “multiple registrants,” to be conducted by poll watchdogs, was also proposed to be conducted by poll watchdogs.
• Use of high quality ballpens and indelible inks.
• Early release of election paraphernalia by the Board of Election Inspectors to prevent delays in opening election precincts.
• Legal assistance for teachers on election duty.
• Creation of a “mechanism for anonymous reporting of irregularities and anomalies during the election and a similar means to air complaints in relation to canvassing. A complaint center via text messaging is set to be activated soon.
• Prohibition on election workers and officials “from accepting personal calls from political candidates.” Unavoidable exceptions “should be logged, noting the name of the caller and the time of the call.”
• Continual and vigilant removal of illegal campaign materials through a collaboration among government agencies, police and volunteer organizations.
• Reassignment of local treasurers 15 days prior to the election and 15 days after the election, as they would serve as local election canvassers. Such reshuffle, said the convention, “is necessary” as they have close ties with local officials.
• The appointment of a seventh Comelec commissioner to ease the workload of existing commissioners and “speed up the resolution of election disputes and cases elevated to the commission.”
• Active campaign for voters’ education through broadcast and print ads and the posting of banners in schools and other public areas.
• Weapons checks in public areas and airports, seaports and transportation terminals to strictly enforce the Comelec gun ban.
• Police and limited military deployment (including route security) in campaign sorties, polling places and canvassing areas minus the unnecessary intrusion.
• Investigation of election-related violence
• Internal policing of the PNP and military as part of the ‘reiteration of a non-partisan organizational policy.’” Erring personnel shall also be probed immediately and sanctioned if found guilty of offending the policy.
As Wednesday’s plenary only had minor inputs to the proposals, Hernandez said the action plan would be implemented next week. Monitoring would be conducted by a secretariat to be organized from among the lead conveners, who chipped in for the expenses of organizing the forum.
“What’s good about this is that one of the conveners is government itself, and that is understandable because there’s a presidential election in 2010. If this election would not be clean, orderly, and honest, it would definitely be a reflection on 2010… You know what happened in 2004. It has been haunting the administration even up to now,” Hernandez said.
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
Posted March 08, 2007 21:37:00(Mla Time)
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — One term would be enough for Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos Recto as Batangas governor.
This was revealed on Thursday by her husband, re-electionist Senator Ralph Recto, who strongly believed that Santos would give in to the clamor of Batangas officials, citizens and religious leaders to take over the provincial capitol.
“I don’t even expect her to be governor for nine years. Age is catching up with her. One term is enough and that will be her encore,” said Recto in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer during a break of a TEAM Unity sortie in Tarlac province.
Santos said she would make her decision on whether to run for Batangas governor on Monday following a strong clamor from Batangas mayors and Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles.
She had initially announced that she was backing out to avoid a Recto family feud as the senator’s brother, incumbent Batangas Vice Governor Ricky Recto, was also eyeing the same post.
Senator Recto said he had never seen “confluence of support as broad as the one asking Vilma to run.”
“It’s unbelievable, she must have made a lasting impression in her nine-year stint as Lipa City Mayor that we are getting calls for her to run from people from all walks of life, from the lowly vendor to big businessmen and from a number of religious groups like Iglesia Ni Kristo,” said Recto.
Recto said he was so proud of his wife that he did not mind people voting for him because they knew him as ‘Mr. Vilma Santos’ even after serving six years in the Senate.
“What I do mind is being called a Noranian,” Recto said in jest.
(originally posted at www.inquirer.net)
