MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked the two television networks ABS-CBN and GMA7 to stop the quick counts as they were “unauthorized.”
At a press conference, Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said only Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) is accredited by the poll body to do a quick count.
“The stations should not do it because it confuses our people. It shows trending and we do not allow trending because they might be reporting from places favorable to their candidates of choice,” he said.
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
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A person who can read between the lines understand why the COMELEC wants the media out of the quick count. Definitely, such "trending," which they accuse these credible news organizations of, will disappoint their plans of ballot switching and election fraud in the senatorial level. The administration, after all, is desperate for control of the Senate.
By now, such claims from the PNP of having"the most peaceful elections ever" has already become a huge lie, that not even Malacanang talks anymore of how "successful" the elections were. Everyday, news of ballot box snatching and switching, schools being burned in the far flung provinces, and mayhem erupting in towns and cities between supporters of rival candidates are flashed continuously in our TV screens. It seems like the violence and chaos from this elections will never end.
Not even the COMELEC could hide anymore their failure to conduct the elections cleanly and credibly in the eyes of everyone.
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The poll chief said the television networks might be cited for contempt if they continue with their quick counts. He said the Comelec’s education and information department has already made representations with the two networks.
“We will impose sanctions [if they don’t follow], but I don’t think they will disregard our instructions…They can be cited for contempt,” he said.
“For instance, the initial count by the Comelec that we just finished, you report that and that’s OK, that’s reporting…The people are entitled to know from which precincts the figures are and if they’re complete,” he added.
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In a country where the greatest cheater of all is the Commander-in-Chief (yeah, I am apathetic to GMA but I've always known that she cheated last elections), how can elections in this country will be fair and square, knowing that the highest boss in the land won because she manipulated the ballots in her favor? How are we so sure that it won't happen again, knowing, that the same perpetrators are the ones running the show this season?
If there is any consolation from this great mess known as the Philippine Mid-Term Elections, it appears that karma has already being served to the people who have done great injustices in the past elections. For example, Garci finally admits defeat in his bid for a congressional seat in Bukidnon. Being the main bad guy in the Hello Garci Scandal, his enemies did not have a hard time convincing their constituents that Garci is a cheater and a liar - he is actually a curse in the sacred land of Bukidnon.
Same thing is true with Manny Pacquiao - the world boxing champion who casted his greedy eyes in the promising land of politics. It seems like the honors, limelight and admiration for him in the field of boxing has not satisfied him at all. With a slight push (and encouragement) from Malacanang, he ran for congress against everyone's wishes. Now that he is being beaten by a petite morena lady by the name of Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Pacquiao complains of cheating.
However, how can he be cheated when we all know how powerless Darlene is - she even cried in front of a national television interview out of her helplessness and frustration against her struggle with Pacquiao.
But the people of GenSan are wise enough to vote for the right leader in office. Stubborn and stupid as Pacquiao will always be, he never heeded the desire of his fans. Hopefully, this would be the beginning of his downfall - not only in his career in boxing but also among the psyche of everyone.
Ever since, I never saw him as a People's Champ. He's always been Gloria's puppet to me.
---
For some reasons, I don't feel that NAMFREL is up for the job of watching over the people's votes. One reason is that compared to the giant networks, they lack the manpower and resources to compete in the quick count. Second, with Joe Concepcion seemingly out of the picture, I doubt whether there is credibility in their counting.
I could have cited more doubts in NAMFREL this election season, but just as I was about to end this entry, I received a text message that solidifies my suspicions that the supposed-to-be election watchdog has already been corrupted by the administration:
---
WARNING! NAMFREL has willingly allowed itself to be used by Malacanang to set a poll count trend in favor of TU. NAMFREL has been tallying votes where the TU is leading while the spinsters from COMELEC are busy conducting surgical operations in areas where the GO leads. (pls. pass).
---
I wonder when will insanity and self-interest end and reason begins.
At a press conference, Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said only Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) is accredited by the poll body to do a quick count.
“The stations should not do it because it confuses our people. It shows trending and we do not allow trending because they might be reporting from places favorable to their candidates of choice,” he said.
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
---
A person who can read between the lines understand why the COMELEC wants the media out of the quick count. Definitely, such "trending," which they accuse these credible news organizations of, will disappoint their plans of ballot switching and election fraud in the senatorial level. The administration, after all, is desperate for control of the Senate.
By now, such claims from the PNP of having"the most peaceful elections ever" has already become a huge lie, that not even Malacanang talks anymore of how "successful" the elections were. Everyday, news of ballot box snatching and switching, schools being burned in the far flung provinces, and mayhem erupting in towns and cities between supporters of rival candidates are flashed continuously in our TV screens. It seems like the violence and chaos from this elections will never end.
Not even the COMELEC could hide anymore their failure to conduct the elections cleanly and credibly in the eyes of everyone.
---
The poll chief said the television networks might be cited for contempt if they continue with their quick counts. He said the Comelec’s education and information department has already made representations with the two networks.
“We will impose sanctions [if they don’t follow], but I don’t think they will disregard our instructions…They can be cited for contempt,” he said.
“For instance, the initial count by the Comelec that we just finished, you report that and that’s OK, that’s reporting…The people are entitled to know from which precincts the figures are and if they’re complete,” he added.
---
In a country where the greatest cheater of all is the Commander-in-Chief (yeah, I am apathetic to GMA but I've always known that she cheated last elections), how can elections in this country will be fair and square, knowing that the highest boss in the land won because she manipulated the ballots in her favor? How are we so sure that it won't happen again, knowing, that the same perpetrators are the ones running the show this season?
If there is any consolation from this great mess known as the Philippine Mid-Term Elections, it appears that karma has already being served to the people who have done great injustices in the past elections. For example, Garci finally admits defeat in his bid for a congressional seat in Bukidnon. Being the main bad guy in the Hello Garci Scandal, his enemies did not have a hard time convincing their constituents that Garci is a cheater and a liar - he is actually a curse in the sacred land of Bukidnon.
Same thing is true with Manny Pacquiao - the world boxing champion who casted his greedy eyes in the promising land of politics. It seems like the honors, limelight and admiration for him in the field of boxing has not satisfied him at all. With a slight push (and encouragement) from Malacanang, he ran for congress against everyone's wishes. Now that he is being beaten by a petite morena lady by the name of Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Pacquiao complains of cheating.
However, how can he be cheated when we all know how powerless Darlene is - she even cried in front of a national television interview out of her helplessness and frustration against her struggle with Pacquiao.
But the people of GenSan are wise enough to vote for the right leader in office. Stubborn and stupid as Pacquiao will always be, he never heeded the desire of his fans. Hopefully, this would be the beginning of his downfall - not only in his career in boxing but also among the psyche of everyone.
Ever since, I never saw him as a People's Champ. He's always been Gloria's puppet to me.
---
For some reasons, I don't feel that NAMFREL is up for the job of watching over the people's votes. One reason is that compared to the giant networks, they lack the manpower and resources to compete in the quick count. Second, with Joe Concepcion seemingly out of the picture, I doubt whether there is credibility in their counting.
I could have cited more doubts in NAMFREL this election season, but just as I was about to end this entry, I received a text message that solidifies my suspicions that the supposed-to-be election watchdog has already been corrupted by the administration:
---
WARNING! NAMFREL has willingly allowed itself to be used by Malacanang to set a poll count trend in favor of TU. NAMFREL has been tallying votes where the TU is leading while the spinsters from COMELEC are busy conducting surgical operations in areas where the GO leads. (pls. pass).
---
I wonder when will insanity and self-interest end and reason begins.
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