To save republic in case of failure of elections’ Angara calls fore election of new Senate president

By Christine Avendaño (Philippine Daily Inquirer)  

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100321-260029/To-save-republic-in-case-of-failure-of-elections
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MANILA, Philippines -- Saying that ``civilian authority'' should move early to save the duly constituted government from a possible failure of the May 10 polls, Senator Edgardo Angara called for the election of a new Senate president among the senators serving until 2013.

He also sought for the Church and business community to use their ``prestige and moral influence'' in averting an ``unprecedented'' power vacuum after the elections.

Interviewed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer after he spoke on dzBB radio about the need for a ``civilian solution'' to the possible failure of the first ever automated polls in the country, Angara said that all 23 senators could meet and elect a new Senate president before the polls even if Congress was in recess for the election campaign.

``We can convene under our internal rules,'' Angara said in a phone interview.

On radio, Angara said there have been jitters on the possible takeover of the military should a failure of election occur because the country could be facing an ``unprecedented'' and ``unusual'' political situation brought about by a vacuum in the political leadership after June 30.

He said the president, vice president, Senate president and Speaker of the House have been set to step down from power midnight of June 30 and thus, there would be no ``interim'' president that can preside should the May 10 polls end up a failure.

Kahit holy week: Pag-imprenta ng mga balota tuloy

mula sa Pilipino Star Ngayon
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558622&publicationSubCategoryId=92

MANILA, Philippines - Tuluy-tuloy ang pag-imprenta ng mga balota sa National Printing Office (NPO) at hindi umano nila papayagang magkaroon ng sagabal upang maantala ito.

Ayon kay Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, kahit Sabado, Linggo at piyesta opisyal ay ipinagpapatuloy nila ang paglilimbag ng mga balota.

Aniya, bukod pa sa 24 oras ang printing, tinaasan na rin nila ang production output mula 70,000 patungo sa mahigit 100,000 balota araw-araw.

Ang kanilang desisyon ay upang matugunan ang mas malaki at mas mabilis na demand para sa natu­rang mga balota.

Sa ngayon ay aminado ang Comelec na napakaliit pa ng bilang na kanilang nailimbag, kumpara sa kanilang target output noon.

Aabot pa lang kasi anila sa 17-milyon ang natatapos nilang official ballots at lubhang malayo pa ito sa 50 milyong kinakailangan sa Mayo 10, 2010. (Doris Franche)

Election body to use stronger indelible ink to stop flying voters

By Kristine L. Alave (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100317-259148/Election-body-to-use-stronger-indelible-ink-to-stop-flying-voters

MANILA, Philippines—The chemical composition of the indelible ink is being strengthened to clip the wings of flying voters in the upcoming elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

Voters are being asked to dip their forefinger in the indelible ink well to show that they had voted, according to Comelec procedures.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said that the poll body was increasing the silver nitrate concentration in the indigo ink that produces the stain on the finger to make it more difficult to remove and thus prevent multiple voting.

In the bidding for the supply of the ink, he said the Comelec was requiring a silver nitrate concentration of 20 percent, up from the previous 5 percent. He noted that in India, the compound was up to 25 percent.

Stays for 2-3 days

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said a low silver nitrate solution would be a boon to unscrupulous voters who erase ink on their fingers using acetone once they leave the precincts.

With the stronger ink, Jimenez said, the mark should stay for two to three days.

Youth, smarter voters key to ‘Gibo’ rating surge – ally

By Aris R. Ilagan With a report from Roy C. Mabasa (Manila Bulletin)

Link: http://mb.com.ph/articles/247944/youth-smarter-voters-key-gibo-rating-surge-ally

The ratings of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. are expected to shore up further with the ever-growing support of the youth sector, more intelligent voters, and the party’s formidable political machinery, campaign spokesman Mike Toledo said Monday.

In the latest survey of the Campaign and Images, Teodoro has already overtaken Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III from the No. 2 slot.

The survey said Gibo’s ratings took off from single-digit levels in December 2009 to 24 percent in March due to “the political machinery of the administration party and (his efforts of) touching base with local government politicians seeking re-election into various offices.”

It also noted that Teodoro’s campaign relies heavily on “a large network of volunteers… in colleges and universities that by far put him well-entrenched in the psyche of voters across the 18-28 and 29-39 age brackets.”

“The survey, ending March 7, shows that the Filipino voter is no longer swayed by candidates' staged spectacles and unsubstantiated self promotion gimmicks.” Toledo said, adding that “the survey convinces us that we can be confident that today's voters, especially the youth are discerning and can recognize a candidate's true worth.”

“Gibo's campaign will not engage in condescending methods of bringing 'artistas' because we want our platforms to be the basis for our candidates to be chosen. We recognize that a voter's intelligence and discernment is equal among the social classes despite differences in economic standing. Intelligent discussion of a candidate's platforms and qualifications is not a monopoly of the A&B classes."

17M ballots printed for May polls—Comelec

By Anna Valmero (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100315-258879/17M-ballots-printed-for-May-pollsComelec

 
MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday that about 17 million ballots have already been printed for the country’s first ever automated elections in May.

“Right now, we have printed 17 million out of the total 50 million ballots. The newly printed ballots are to be used in polling precincts mostly in Visayas and Mindanao and some Luzon areas,” said Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, who chairs the steering committee on automation.

With a fifth printer set to arrive by March 20 at the National Printing Office (NPO), Comelec expects to finish the printing of all 50 million ballots by April 25—also the start of the shipment of ballots, the poll machines, ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia, said the poll official.

When the additional printer arrives, Larrazabal said they expect to ramp up production of 900,000 ballots printed daily, up from the current daily output of 650,000 to 700,000.

“When the fifth printer arrives next week, the earliest on March 20, we see production of up to 900,000 ballots per day. This would enable us to finish printing all ballots by April 25,” he noted.

Ballots to be used in Metro Manila would be printed last since shipment would be easier from NPO to municipal treasury offices compared to Visayas and Mindanao regions, he said.

Comelec: Double registrants 704,542, not millions

By Mayen Jaymalin   – With Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558160&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed yesterday the existence of 700,000 double registrants nationwide.

The Comelec’s Information and Technology Department (ITD), with the use of algorithmic matching, found a total of 704,542 voters with double or multiple registration records.

With the discovery, the Comelec immediately issued a resolution to curb the number of double registrants in the coming May elections.

Under Resolution No. 8791, the Comelec en banc directed all Board of Elections Inspectors (BEIs) not to allow voters with double registration to vote in their respective precincts.

The Comelec also ordered the names of double registrants to be deleted in the next Elections Registration Board (ERB) hearings.

The Comelec also tasked the Election and Barangay Affairs Department in coordination with the ITD to implement the resolution.

The ITD printed a list of voters whose registration records are not valid per precinct and per district/municipality/city, and disseminated the same to all Election Officers concerned, the Comelec said.

Earlier, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal refuted the reported existence of some five million double registrants who are likely to vote more than once in the coming elections.