2007 Elections

Manny Pacquiao withdraws his money, instigates ‘mini bank run’

Apparently upset that he was defeated in his congressional bid and that his 'principals" in Manila has so far failed to reimburse him the 140 million pesos he supposedly spent in the elections, boxing hero Manny Pacquiao reportedly instigated what amounted to a mini bank run after he withdrew all his remaining money from three banks. According to BusinessMirror, "Informed sources said Pacquiao withdrew all his money from a bank in General Santos City as he conducted a personal audit and found he spent more than P140 million in election-related expenses but was still trounced by his diminutive political opponent." Read the full story here.

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TU: Mindanao may win it for Zubiri, Recto

The administration?s Team Unity (TU) is pinning its hopes on less than two million votes from six provinces in Mindanao that have yet to be canvassed to push Miguel Zubiri and Ralph Recto into the Magic 12.

The provinces are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Surigao del Norte.
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Why elections are ‘like Christmas’ in Lanao Sur

With Lanao del Sur communities plagued by poverty and short in social services, election season is considered ?paskuhan? (Christmas season). Politicians? money flows like rain, mainly to buy the votes of the residents. As if vote buying were not enough, the elections there, like elsewhere in the country, were chaotic. Related story: Elections, Lanao-style

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Philippines: Elections, Lanao-style

Pandemonium and scuffles break out in several precincts as special elections are held in Lanao del Sur towns. With soldiers deployed in schools and halls leading to precincts littered with garbage and reeking of manure, and many ballots uncounted, one would ask what?s so ?special? about the special elections held here on May 26.
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Emerging configuration in the party-list bloc

Among the top-ranking groups in the latest party-list vote count are three newcomers. At least two of these party-list groups have been linked in some way to the Arroyo administration ? with one having openly endorsed a local candidate from Kampi, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s party, in the recently concluded senatorial and local elections. Meanwhile, three more are linked with the religious sector.
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