2007 Elections

Relief of Davao’s Comelec director urged

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. today called for the relief of the director for Southern Mindanao of the Commission on Elections following reports that the official was involved in the padding and shaving of votes in Davao City and Davao del Sur.

Pimentel, whose son Aquilino III had earlier complained that his votes in the senatorial race in Davao City had been shaved by as many as 85,000 votes, said Comelec regional director Remlane Tambuang was involved in what he called “dagdag-bawas operation” in Davao City and Davao del Sur.
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Election watchdog mounts protest vs fraud, violence; slams Abalos for threatening whistleblowers

MANILA — Election watchdog Kontra Daya joined other groups in a rally against what it called ?Arroyo administration?s orchestrated cheating,? Wednesday.

Thousands of concerned citizens marched toward the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where the national canvassing is ongoing.
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Election fraud in Philippines provokes demonstrations

MANILA — As thousands gathered in front of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where the national canvassing of votes is being done, the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan warned of more protest actions in the coming weeks as delays and anomalies in the canvassing of votes raise more questions as to the credibility of the recent polls.
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In ComVal, ‘kamang’ rules as military turns partisan


A soldier peers into the vehicle of foreign observers en route to Compostela Valley on Election Day. (Cheryll Fiel) Slideshow

Apart from the vote buying and harassments by candidates and their henchmen, the heavy presence of the military dominated the atmosphere in Compostela Valley before and during the elections. The soldiers were supposedly sent to the province to augment the police and keep the peace but, according to officials and residents, the military was directly involved in incidents of intimidating or harassing voters and vilifying partylist groups.

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Comelec praises soldiers, blames voters for missing names

On the allegation that soldiers campaigned against partylist groups, Comelec official said it was within a soldier's right to do so. On the missing names in precincts, he had this to say: "What happens is that when people do not see their names right away, they immediately complain." He said voters were not diligent enough to look for their names.

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