MANILA — The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance) today announced that protest actions have scheduled in Australia to coincide with the official visit of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The announcement comes right after Filipinos and Japanese held protest actions during Arroyo?s latest Japan trip.
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Newsbreak magazine says that five partylist groups have used the services -- to put it mildly -- of so-called operators in order to win votes in the special elections held in Lanao del Sur yesterday. Two of these partylist groups are Yacap and Biyaheng Pinoy, groups that were allegedly formed by people with ties to the Arroyo administration.
Commentary | The elections are a period when conflicting forces play out an act in a long-running drama. For those who control power, each election is crucial. They cannot afford to lose. They can, in another sense, afford to win through ?guns, goons, gold and Garci.?
Commentary | The reports of massive fraud are staring the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the face and Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and Commissioner Rene Sarmiento still refuse to conduct a thorough investigation and act swiftly to prevent further damage. And they refuse to do so only because there are no witnesses. Perhaps the Comelec is afflicted with a serious illness called Garci.
Related stories: Spectacle of a problematic election | A sickness called Garci