Written by Violeta M. Gloria / MindaNews
Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23 09 06
http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2743&Itemid=216
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/26 June) -- The second division of the Commission on Elections in Manila today received copies of the certificates of canvass (CoCs) of Maigo, Bacolod and Kauswagan towns in Lanao del Norte from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Liberal Party during a hearing on the contested votes for the congressional post of the 1st district of Iligan and Lanao del Norte. The second division composed of Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer and Jaime Tuazon asked lawyers of both parties to write their positions in a memorandum and submit it within five days.
Lawyer Voltaire Rivera, who attended the hearing for congressional candidate Vicente “Varf” Belmonte of the Genuine Opposition, said the Comelec will now decide whether to use the authentic copies they brought or the alleged tampered CoCs “in proclaiming the genuine representative of the 1st District of Iligan and Lanao del Norte.”
The GO asked Comelec to “set aside the tampered CoCs from Maigo, Bacolod and Kauswagan towns.”
Lawyer Dino Quijano of Lakas-CMD who also attended the hearing in Manila, told DXLS that Lakas-CMD lead lawyer Pete Quirino Quadra argued that the Comelec has no jurisdiction to hear the controversy and must deny the petition of the GO lawyers.
But while Quadra argued that Comelec has no jurisdiction, he also motioned that Imelda Dimaporo be proclaimed as the winner using the Statement of Votes based on the alleged tampered figures of Maigo and Bacolod towns.
According to the final, unofficial count of Namfrel as of 5 pm May 19, Belmonte got 58,962 votes against Team Unity-backed candidates Angelique Dawn Badelles (45,670) and Imelda Dimaporo (42,956).
In a statement, the Iligan Movement for True Democracy, Belmonte’s support group, alleged that on May 19, “poll watchers from the opposition were disallowed to enter the provincial legislative building where provincial canvassing was being done."
"The following morning, our lawyers found out that three ballot boxes from the towns of Bacolod, Maigo and Kauswagan were forcibly opened," the group related.
The group alleged the votes from the three towns were tampered and that based on these tampered votes, Dimaporo was now leading.
Ms Dimaporo, the outgoing governor, is wife to reelected 2nd district Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, the governor before her, and is mother to Khalid, the incoming governor.
The special provincial board of canvassers in Lanao del Norte has set aside the tampered CoCs of Kauswagan because the padded figures for Dimaporo exceeded the total number of voters in Kauswagan, making it statistically improbable.
Lawyer Manny Salibay, counsel of Belmonte, explained to reporters that “Comelec has no power over pre-proclamation cases for representative except if there are manifest errors in the certificates of canvass which maybe corrected by the canvassing board motu propio or upon written complaint of interested person, or by the Comelec in a petition filed or upon proper appeal from the ruling of the board of canvassers.”
Lawyer Sixto Brilliantes, lead counsel of Belmonte, also said the petition to dismiss the case arguing lack of jurisdiction is a “prohibited pleading under the Rule of Procedures of Comelec.”
“Under the law, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, composed of three judges and six congressmen, will have jurisdiction on election protest only if there is already a proclaimed representative," explained lawyer Arthur Abundiente, counsel of GO.
In the case of Lanao, the special PBOC has not proclaimed a winner yet because Comelec made a directive to “proceed with the canvass… but not to proclaim the winner.” The directive was signed by Nicodemo Ferrer who also sits at the second division of Comelec now.
Meanwhile, Bishop Elenito de los Reyes Galido together with priests in Iligan city and Lanao del Norte celebrated mass at Saint Michael's cathedral Monday night “for truth to prevail.”
Bishop Galido urged the faithful to pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede, "enlighten and inspire those who are working for truth.”
“We may have fears, doubts and uncertainties but the Holy Spirit is our only refuge and our salvation. We must continuously pray,” he said in his homily. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23 16 53 )
Sukhran to MindaNews
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
TO THE COMELEC EN BANC IN MANILA
(More than 50,000 people of Iligan city and Lanao del Norte signed this statement demanding Comelec en banc to head the call for truth and justice. A copy of this was submitted to Comelec en Banc.)
TO THE COMELEC EN BANC
The 3 tampered ballot boxes from the towns of Maigo, Bacolod and Kauswagan showed that the Certificates of Canvas (CoC) inside are also tampered with snowpake and erasures.
Inspite of vehement protests that these tampered CoCs should not be used for the canvassing, the PBOC proceeded.
The canvassed results based on these tampered CoCs showed that the tallies do not coincide with the CoCs of the minority party and the PPCRV. The tally is statistically improbable based on the total voters turnout.
This created an atmosphere of doubt, uncertainty and anger in the minds of the people of District 1 Lanao del Norte.
WE THEREFORE ASK THE FOLLOWING:
1. We appeal that the Comelec en banc will head our call and struggle for TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PEACE to triumph in this election;
2. That the Municipal Certificates of Canvass inside the tampered ballot boxes of Kauswagan, Bacolod and Maigo should be excluded in the basis for proclaiming a Representative to the House of Congress for District 1 Lanao del Norte.
3. We ask Comelec en banc to proclaim our representative that is truly chosen by electorates of Iligan and Lanao del Norte as reflected in the authentic copies of CoCs held by Namfrel/PPCRV, majority and minority parties;
4. We also plea for parties in this electoral exercise not to “commit acts inimical to the essence of democracy and fair play”.
This movement is conceived by the religious and the civil society of Lanao del Norte as a movement by the people to ensure for themselves that their leaders is their choice based on their will as written in the ballot.
TO THE COMELEC EN BANC
The 3 tampered ballot boxes from the towns of Maigo, Bacolod and Kauswagan showed that the Certificates of Canvas (CoC) inside are also tampered with snowpake and erasures.
Inspite of vehement protests that these tampered CoCs should not be used for the canvassing, the PBOC proceeded.
The canvassed results based on these tampered CoCs showed that the tallies do not coincide with the CoCs of the minority party and the PPCRV. The tally is statistically improbable based on the total voters turnout.
This created an atmosphere of doubt, uncertainty and anger in the minds of the people of District 1 Lanao del Norte.
WE THEREFORE ASK THE FOLLOWING:
1. We appeal that the Comelec en banc will head our call and struggle for TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PEACE to triumph in this election;
2. That the Municipal Certificates of Canvass inside the tampered ballot boxes of Kauswagan, Bacolod and Maigo should be excluded in the basis for proclaiming a Representative to the House of Congress for District 1 Lanao del Norte.
3. We ask Comelec en banc to proclaim our representative that is truly chosen by electorates of Iligan and Lanao del Norte as reflected in the authentic copies of CoCs held by Namfrel/PPCRV, majority and minority parties;
4. We also plea for parties in this electoral exercise not to “commit acts inimical to the essence of democracy and fair play”.
This movement is conceived by the religious and the civil society of Lanao del Norte as a movement by the people to ensure for themselves that their leaders is their choice based on their will as written in the ballot.
Official statement of Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA) on Lanao Election Crisis
KRISIS SA NAIHAP NGA BOTO SA KATAWHAN SA LANAO DEL NORTE KABAHIN SA NASUDNONG MANIUBRA SA ADMINISTRASYONG GMA ALANG SA ILANG PAGPABILIN SA PWESTO UG PAGPAHIMULOS.
(This official statement of Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA) sent and read at DXLS Love Radio of Iligan city on June 18, 2006)
Ang kalihukang pagpakabana sa katawhan kabahin sa pagpalutaw sa kamatuoran sa tinuod nga giboto sa katawhan nagpakita nga nahigmata na ang katawhan sa dakbayan sa Iligan ug probinsya sa Lanao sa kabililhon ug kasagrado sa boto. Bisan tuod napili ug gisulat sa katawhan ang usa ka kandidato sa unsa man nga kahimtang, gawas tungod sa kahadluk, kini pagailhon nga iyang kagustohan sa kaugalingon ug angay nga respitohan. Busa natural nga dili tiaw ang pagabation sa tawo kung ang iyang boto panamastamasan. Bisan gani kung ang boto tua gitahan sa kandidato nga wala buligi sa kahigayonan dili lalim ang pagabation sa hingtungdan kung kini maapil sa gipanamastamasan sa binuang nga buhat. Busa ang Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates kun LAHRA midayig ug misuporta sa kalihukang pagpakabana sa nahigmata nga katawhan sa paghatag og bili sa ilang katungod ug kasagrado sa boto.
Ang LAHRA miapil sa Movement for Truth Justice and Peace (MTJP) tungod kay kini nagpakita nga nanalipod sa katungod sa katawhan labi na ang katungod sa boto sa katawhan ug kasagrado niini. Usa ka linuog nga binuhatan ang klaro kaayo nga pagguba sa kandado ug ballot boxes nga gisudlan sa Certificate of Canvass (COCs) sa munisipyo sa Maigo, Bacolod ug Kauswagan, dungagan pa sa pag-usab sa ihap sa boto nga nasulat sa mga COCs. Klaro kaayo nga giusab ang ihap sa boto tungod sa klarong snowpake ug klaro nga lahi na kaayo kini ikompara sa mga dobling kopya sa COCs nga anaa sa PPCRV-NAMFREL, Liberal Party ug uban pa. Busa usa kini ka pagpanamastamas, tamparos ug insulto sa mabuot nga katawhang botante sa Maigo, Bacolod, Kauswagan ug sa mahilambigit niini nga boto sa katawhan sa Iligan ug sa ubang munisipyo sa Lanao del Norte. Ang binuang nga buhat nga pag-usab sa boto sa katawhan usa ka pagpasipala ug pagyatak sa boto sa Kristiano, Muslim ug Lumad sa Lanao Norte ug Iligan busa ang kalihukan sa pagpangita sa kamatuoran sulod sa Movement for Truth Justice and Peace (MTJP) gihiusahan sa mga Muslim, Kristiano ug Lumad. Si bisan kinsa man ang naghimo sa klarong pag-usab sa boto sa COCs kini kondenahon sa MTJP. Dili kini isyu sa managlahi nga pagtuo ug banagbatok sa Muslim ug Kristiano.
Usa ka pagsimang sa isyu ang gipakaylap sa nasuko sa Movement for Truth, Justice and Peace nga ang kalihukang pagpangita sa kamatuoran sa nagpakabanang katawhan maghaling lang kuno og away o kagubot tali sa Muslim ug Kristiano. Angay nato nga mahibaloan nga dili tanang Muslim uyon sa pagpanikas tungod kay wala itudlo sa tinuohang Islam ang dautang buhat sa pagpanikas, ang Islam katarung ug kalinaw.
Ania kini nga krisis karon sa resulta sa eleksyon tungod sa dayag nga pagpanikas, gibaliwala na ang kaulaw sa nahitabo sa Lanao Norte, Davao Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu ug halos sa tibuok nasud aron lang maseguro sa administrasyong GMA nga mayoriya sa mga kongresista iyang kadapig aron mapanalipdan si GMA sa pagpalagpot pinaagi sa impeachment sa Ubos Balay Balaoranan. Ang mga kadapig ni GMA nga anaa sa ubos nga posisyon nagsunod lamang kang GMA sa iyang walay ulaw nga pagmaniubra sa 2004 nga eleksyon, igo lang sila gasunod sa giingon sa english nga, “leader is model, follow the leader”. Kini legasiya sa GMA-Garci nga kontrobersya.
Busa nakita sa LAHRA nga hangtud walay hustisya ang sagradong boto sa katawhan sa 2004 ug karong bag-o nga eleksyon magpadayon ang kalihukang sa katawhang Lumad, Muslim ug Kristiano pagpangita sa kamatuoran.
SINGGIT SA ILIGAN UG LANAO NORTE - KAMATUORAN!
Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)
Hunyo 15, 2007
(This official statement of Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA) sent and read at DXLS Love Radio of Iligan city on June 18, 2006)
Ang kalihukang pagpakabana sa katawhan kabahin sa pagpalutaw sa kamatuoran sa tinuod nga giboto sa katawhan nagpakita nga nahigmata na ang katawhan sa dakbayan sa Iligan ug probinsya sa Lanao sa kabililhon ug kasagrado sa boto. Bisan tuod napili ug gisulat sa katawhan ang usa ka kandidato sa unsa man nga kahimtang, gawas tungod sa kahadluk, kini pagailhon nga iyang kagustohan sa kaugalingon ug angay nga respitohan. Busa natural nga dili tiaw ang pagabation sa tawo kung ang iyang boto panamastamasan. Bisan gani kung ang boto tua gitahan sa kandidato nga wala buligi sa kahigayonan dili lalim ang pagabation sa hingtungdan kung kini maapil sa gipanamastamasan sa binuang nga buhat. Busa ang Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates kun LAHRA midayig ug misuporta sa kalihukang pagpakabana sa nahigmata nga katawhan sa paghatag og bili sa ilang katungod ug kasagrado sa boto.
Ang LAHRA miapil sa Movement for Truth Justice and Peace (MTJP) tungod kay kini nagpakita nga nanalipod sa katungod sa katawhan labi na ang katungod sa boto sa katawhan ug kasagrado niini. Usa ka linuog nga binuhatan ang klaro kaayo nga pagguba sa kandado ug ballot boxes nga gisudlan sa Certificate of Canvass (COCs) sa munisipyo sa Maigo, Bacolod ug Kauswagan, dungagan pa sa pag-usab sa ihap sa boto nga nasulat sa mga COCs. Klaro kaayo nga giusab ang ihap sa boto tungod sa klarong snowpake ug klaro nga lahi na kaayo kini ikompara sa mga dobling kopya sa COCs nga anaa sa PPCRV-NAMFREL, Liberal Party ug uban pa. Busa usa kini ka pagpanamastamas, tamparos ug insulto sa mabuot nga katawhang botante sa Maigo, Bacolod, Kauswagan ug sa mahilambigit niini nga boto sa katawhan sa Iligan ug sa ubang munisipyo sa Lanao del Norte. Ang binuang nga buhat nga pag-usab sa boto sa katawhan usa ka pagpasipala ug pagyatak sa boto sa Kristiano, Muslim ug Lumad sa Lanao Norte ug Iligan busa ang kalihukan sa pagpangita sa kamatuoran sulod sa Movement for Truth Justice and Peace (MTJP) gihiusahan sa mga Muslim, Kristiano ug Lumad. Si bisan kinsa man ang naghimo sa klarong pag-usab sa boto sa COCs kini kondenahon sa MTJP. Dili kini isyu sa managlahi nga pagtuo ug banagbatok sa Muslim ug Kristiano.
Usa ka pagsimang sa isyu ang gipakaylap sa nasuko sa Movement for Truth, Justice and Peace nga ang kalihukang pagpangita sa kamatuoran sa nagpakabanang katawhan maghaling lang kuno og away o kagubot tali sa Muslim ug Kristiano. Angay nato nga mahibaloan nga dili tanang Muslim uyon sa pagpanikas tungod kay wala itudlo sa tinuohang Islam ang dautang buhat sa pagpanikas, ang Islam katarung ug kalinaw.
Ania kini nga krisis karon sa resulta sa eleksyon tungod sa dayag nga pagpanikas, gibaliwala na ang kaulaw sa nahitabo sa Lanao Norte, Davao Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu ug halos sa tibuok nasud aron lang maseguro sa administrasyong GMA nga mayoriya sa mga kongresista iyang kadapig aron mapanalipdan si GMA sa pagpalagpot pinaagi sa impeachment sa Ubos Balay Balaoranan. Ang mga kadapig ni GMA nga anaa sa ubos nga posisyon nagsunod lamang kang GMA sa iyang walay ulaw nga pagmaniubra sa 2004 nga eleksyon, igo lang sila gasunod sa giingon sa english nga, “leader is model, follow the leader”. Kini legasiya sa GMA-Garci nga kontrobersya.
Busa nakita sa LAHRA nga hangtud walay hustisya ang sagradong boto sa katawhan sa 2004 ug karong bag-o nga eleksyon magpadayon ang kalihukang sa katawhang Lumad, Muslim ug Kristiano pagpangita sa kamatuoran.
SINGGIT SA ILIGAN UG LANAO NORTE - KAMATUORAN!
Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)
Hunyo 15, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
WE WILL NOT BE CHEATED!
The statement below appears at the second frontpage of Philippine Daily Inquirer Newspaper today, June 16, 2007.
On the morning of May 20, 2007 the ballot boxes containing the certificate of canvass (CoCs) of Kauswagan, Bacolod, and Maigo towns of Lanao del Norte were tampered. The official investigation of the National Bureau of Invesigation (NBI) reports that said boxes were forcibly opened.
On June 16, 2007 the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) opened these tampered boxes. Indeed, the CoCs inside were found tampered too. The tallies opposite the names of Badelles, Belmonte and Dimaporo were covered with snowpake and new figures were written over it.
Inspite vehement protests, the PBOC proceeded in canvassing using the controversial CoCs.
The canvassed results out of these tampered CoCs showed that the tallies do not coincide with the CoCs held by the minority party, Peoples Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Secretariat of Social Action (NASSA) and Namfrel. The tally is statistically improbable based on the total voters’ turnout.
We have held prayer vigils, rallies, and peaceful demonstrations to show that we want the true people’s voice heard.
We are letting the rest of the Filipino people know through this announcement that the people of Lanao del Norte and Iligan city will fight to get the truth out. We are not going to stand idly while our rights are violated.
OUR APPEAL TO THE COMELEC MUST BE HEARD. The tampered municipal certificates of canvass of Kauswagan, Bacolod and Maigo MUST BE EXCLUDED in determining the winning candidate for the 1st Congressional District of Lanao del Norte. Comelec must decide on this immediately.
OUR STUGGLE WILL CONTINUE FOR GENUINE DEMOCRACY!
MOVEMENT FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PEACE
Non-governmental organizations, Peoples Organizations, Religious Groups, Media, Local Government Unit and concern citizens
COMMENT: At the Price of Conscience
Written by Patricio P. Diaz / MindaNews
Wednesday, 06 June 2007 00 50 38
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/5 June) – The Movement for Truth and Justice and Peace, organized by the religious groups and civil society, are leading residents of Iligan City in mounting protests against the canvassing of the tampered Certificates of Canvass from Bacolod, Kauswagan and Maigo – three of the seven municipalities composing the first district of Lanao del Norte that includes Iligan City. (MindaNews, June 4)
Before the canvass, Vicente “Varf” Belmonte (GO) was leading Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo (Lakas-CMD) by 17,000 votes; after, Dimaporo led Belmonte by 7,000 votes. In Iligan City, by the Namfrel Count, Belmonte won against Dimaporo by a margin of 22,938 votes. The election was a three-cornered fight among Belmonte, Dimaporo and Nikki Badelles (TU).
Despite the vehement objections of the lawyers of Genuine Opposition, the Commission on Elections – disregarding the evidence of forcible opening of the boxes containing the CoCs -- ordered the canvass of the questioned CoCs but not to declare a winner, obviously until the National Bureau of Investigation has ascertained if the CoCs had been tampered.
The three boxes were forcibly opened last May 19 inside the legislative building in Tubod, the capital of Lanao del Norte, wrote MindaNews (May 21) citing a report of Iligan Movement for True Democracy which the NBI later confirmed. Tubod is under the full control of the men of Dimaporo, the outgoing governor.
The order to canvass had neither logic nor sense. Why canvass but not proclaim? The GO lawyers argued that the tampered votes gained legitimacy when canvassed and could be a valid ground for the winner to petition for proclamation. The restraint will be “until ordered by the Commission” – an order fraught with all possibilities.
Puzzling
The Commission ordered the provincial board of canvassers to submit the COCs from the tampered ballot boxes -- if found with discrepancies – “to the NBI for technical investigation if alterations were found”. This is puzzling, unnecessary and arbitrary.
The case of the tampered ballot boxes is, by inference, covered by Sections 235 and 236 of the Omnibus Election Code. Nowhere is there a reference to the NBI. They prescribe solutions to be done by the board of canvassers. Only when none of these is possible, will the board of canvassers bring the matter to the Commission for final resolution.
In the case of the forcible opening of the ballot boxes from Bacolod, Maigo and Kauswagan, these had been brought to the attention of the Commission, hence its memorandum to the Provincial Board of Canvassers. And, what were found inside the ballot boxes?
Quoting the GO lead lawyer, MindaNews (June 2) reported: “The original figures of the COC were ‘snowpeaked’ (erased and changed), numbers of votes were altered, signatures and ink used which appeared in CoCs were different compared to other authentic CoCs held by Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections), majority and minority parties.”
The tampering of the CoCs in the ballot boxes was evident. With reference to Sections 235 and 236, the CoCs with Namfrel and the two parties, all authentic copies of the tampered CoCs, should have been used for the canvassing.
More Evidence
The most compelling evidence of tampering is the difference between the figures in CoCs from the forcibly opened ballot boxes and the authentic copies in the hands of Namfrel and the two political parties. No NBI findings can reverse the logical and inevitable conclusion.
Figures in the authentic copies with Namfrel and the two parties show the following: Badelles had 7,285 votes in the three municipalities; Belmonte, 7,149; and Dimaporo, 7,851. The total valid votes cast (TVVC) for the three, 22,285.
In the CoCs inside the forcibly opened boxes: Badelles, 985 votes; Belmonte, 819; Dimaporo, 26,213; TVVC, 28,017.
Badelles lost 6,300 votes; Belmonte lost 6,330; Dimaporo gained, 18,362; and, TVVC, increased by 5,732. This increase could have been taken from the votes of the two other candidates who, by Namfrel Count, got insignificant votes in the whole district – Leo Zaragosa, 5,715 and Jojo Borja, 274 or a total of 5,989 votes.
Dimaporo’s 18,362-increase is the total of the votes that Badelles and Belmonte lost plus the increase in TVVC. (6,300 + 6330 + 5,732 = 18,362)
Before the canvass, the authentic copies with Namfrel and the two parties showed Belmonte leading Dimaporo – in round figures – by 17,000 votes; after the canvass, Dimaporo led by 7,000 (INQUIRER.net, June 3). According to Namfrel Count, Belmonte had a landslide in Iligan City – 35,381 against Badelles’ 21,886 and Dimaporo’s 12,843.
The TVVC had to be increased and padded on Dimaporo’s votes to give her an impressive margin of 7,000 plus. The votes shaved from Badelles and Belmonte would have given Dimaporo only 1,000 plus winning margin.
In Conscience
Belmonte has a strong case but he could lose the election and his clear mandate. The forcibly opened boxes and the evidently tampered CoCs, following strictly the Omnibus Election Code, should have been sealed and set aside. However, the Commission ordered the canvassing of the CoCs paving the way for a possible proclamation of Dimaporo.
In conscience, how can the commissioners be arbitrary? They know that the integrity of the CoCs can be determined, as a last recourse, by the ERs; and, that of the ERs, by the ballots with the Commission having the last option. Why let the NBI determine the integrity of the CoCs when the board of canvassers should do this -- and the Commission, if necessary?
Dimaporo may take advantage of the arbitrariness of the Commission and her nearness to Malacañang, and petition the Commission to proclaim her the winner. Let no one be surprised if the petition will be granted even before the NBI could submit its findings.
Should this happen, can Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo – reared as a Christian but now a devout Muslim – raise her head high to exult in a false mandate bought at the price of her false Christian-Muslim conscience?
(Sukhran to MindaNews)
COMMENT: Glaring Conspiracy
Written by Patricio P. Diaz / MindaNews
Thursday, 14 June 2007 02 26 33
http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2642&Itemid=68"
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 June) -- What could be a glaring conspiracy between the Commission on Elections and candidate Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo (Lakas-MCD), the outgoing governor of Lanao del Sur, appears to be unraveling to its plotted end. The latter may be proclaimed representative-elect of the first district of the province despite objections from the evident winner, Vicente “Varf” Belmonte (GO).Last June 1, the Commission ordered the canvassing of votes from Bacolod, Kauswagan and Maigo in spite of evidence that the boxes containing the certificates of canvass were forcibly opened last May 19 in the capital town of Tubod. Belmonte’s objections were ignored.The Commission’s order was puzzling. As inferred from Section 237 of the Omnibus Election Code, the CoCs from the three towns should have not been counted but sealed in the ballot boxes for safekeeping. A comparison of the questionable CoCs with the authentic copies that had been given to the political parties and Namfrel positively indicated tampering by vote padding and shaving or dagdag-bawas.The restrictive portion of the order to canvass – not to declare a winner – was toothless. The inclusion of the evidently tampered CoCs in the canvass clothed them with the authenticity that could be a legal basis for Dimaporo to petition for her proclamation.That was what exactly happened.Loser to WinnerAccording to the authentic copies of the COCs from the seven municipalities and Iligan City which compose the first district of Lanao Norte, Dimaporo was the poor third with more than 17,000 votes behind Belmonte. The questionable CoCs catapulted Dimaporo to 7,764 votes over Belmonte (INQUIRER.net, June 9).Lawyer Elcid Javier, lead counsel of Dimaparo, has taken the offensive. In his quest to have the Comelec proclaim Dimaporo, he said that “the Comelec’s decision to canvass the disputed CoCs only indicated that there was no fraud”. In the same INQUIRER.net report, “The commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide whether or not to proclaim Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo as the winning candidate in the province’s first congressional district.”The Comelec has put Belmonte on the defensive. Under the election laws, the Comelec orders contested votes counted after having resolved all questions of fraud. When it ordered counted the questionable votes, it strengthened the “no fraud” position of Dimaporo.Can Belmonte stop the Comelec from eventually proclaiming Dimaporo? The burden now is very much heavier than before the counting of the questioned CoCs. Should the Comelec so decide, Belmonte will be left with the only remedy – election protest that will drag on forever. After delivering the one-two-three punch, will the Comelec wield the coup de grace? Very probable – in the name of peace!Two Lanao del Norte officials – Vice Gov. Irma Ali and Mayor “Nonoy” Mequiabas, president of the province’s mayor’s league – “have warned that prolonging the proclamation of the congressional winner might worsen the tension between opposing camps”.The warning fits squarely into the glaring conspiracy. Could all these have been done if Dimaporo were not a Lakas-MCD candidate?
(“Comment" is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz' column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his "commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate." You may e-mail your comments to patpdiaz@mindanews.com)
Sukhran to MindaNews
Thursday, 14 June 2007 02 26 33
http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2642&Itemid=68"
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 June) -- What could be a glaring conspiracy between the Commission on Elections and candidate Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo (Lakas-MCD), the outgoing governor of Lanao del Sur, appears to be unraveling to its plotted end. The latter may be proclaimed representative-elect of the first district of the province despite objections from the evident winner, Vicente “Varf” Belmonte (GO).Last June 1, the Commission ordered the canvassing of votes from Bacolod, Kauswagan and Maigo in spite of evidence that the boxes containing the certificates of canvass were forcibly opened last May 19 in the capital town of Tubod. Belmonte’s objections were ignored.The Commission’s order was puzzling. As inferred from Section 237 of the Omnibus Election Code, the CoCs from the three towns should have not been counted but sealed in the ballot boxes for safekeeping. A comparison of the questionable CoCs with the authentic copies that had been given to the political parties and Namfrel positively indicated tampering by vote padding and shaving or dagdag-bawas.The restrictive portion of the order to canvass – not to declare a winner – was toothless. The inclusion of the evidently tampered CoCs in the canvass clothed them with the authenticity that could be a legal basis for Dimaporo to petition for her proclamation.That was what exactly happened.Loser to WinnerAccording to the authentic copies of the COCs from the seven municipalities and Iligan City which compose the first district of Lanao Norte, Dimaporo was the poor third with more than 17,000 votes behind Belmonte. The questionable CoCs catapulted Dimaporo to 7,764 votes over Belmonte (INQUIRER.net, June 9).Lawyer Elcid Javier, lead counsel of Dimaparo, has taken the offensive. In his quest to have the Comelec proclaim Dimaporo, he said that “the Comelec’s decision to canvass the disputed CoCs only indicated that there was no fraud”. In the same INQUIRER.net report, “The commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide whether or not to proclaim Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo as the winning candidate in the province’s first congressional district.”The Comelec has put Belmonte on the defensive. Under the election laws, the Comelec orders contested votes counted after having resolved all questions of fraud. When it ordered counted the questionable votes, it strengthened the “no fraud” position of Dimaporo.Can Belmonte stop the Comelec from eventually proclaiming Dimaporo? The burden now is very much heavier than before the counting of the questioned CoCs. Should the Comelec so decide, Belmonte will be left with the only remedy – election protest that will drag on forever. After delivering the one-two-three punch, will the Comelec wield the coup de grace? Very probable – in the name of peace!Two Lanao del Norte officials – Vice Gov. Irma Ali and Mayor “Nonoy” Mequiabas, president of the province’s mayor’s league – “have warned that prolonging the proclamation of the congressional winner might worsen the tension between opposing camps”.The warning fits squarely into the glaring conspiracy. Could all these have been done if Dimaporo were not a Lakas-MCD candidate?
(“Comment" is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz' column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his "commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate." You may e-mail your comments to patpdiaz@mindanews.com)
Sukhran to MindaNews
Independence Day in Iligan: 2 parades for truth and justice, vs electoral fraud
Written by Violeta M. Gloria / MindaNews
Wednesday, 13 June 2007 08 09 45
http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2634&Itemid=216
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/12 June) -- There were two parades here today, the first by the city government to celebrate independence “anchored on truth and justice,” and the other to protest electoral fraud.The employees of city government and its agencies, led by mayor Lawrence Cruz held a traditional civic-military parade around the city at 7 a.m.As traditionally done, bands played at the city's Freedom Plaza where the parade ended and where a short program was held."True independence is always anchored on truth and justice,” the mayor said.At 9:30 a.m., members of the multi-sectoral group, Movement for Truth Justice and Peace (MTJP) who converged at the city's post office, also marched down the streets "to commemorate the day within the context of truth and independence."Members brought placards and streamers urging the Commission on Elections en banc to set aside the three allegedly tampered certificates of canvass (CoCs) from the towns of Bacolod, Maigo and Kauswagan and not to use it as basis for proclaiming the representative of the first district of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) count had shown Varf Belmonte leading the race in the first congressional district with incumbent governor Imelda Dimaporo placing third. But the alleged tampered certificates would have Dimaporo leading.Dimaporo’s husband, Abdullah has been proclaimed re-elected congressman of the 2nd district while their son Khalid has been proclaimed governor.“We expressed our will through our ballpens but even our votes were erased by snowpake and easily tampered or altered in exchange for money,” said Aisah, a Moro mother."I may live and die with this fraud and lies but what will happen to our children if we will allow cheats to lead us... the power-that-be is playing us like toys," she said.Fr. Nasser Zaragoza, parish priest of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte and co-convenor of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), urged the government “to investigate who forcibly opened the three ballot boxes and those who ‘snowpaked’ the CoCs... and enforce penalties to these offenders in accordance to the law.”Fr. Albert Mendez, head of PPCRV-Lanao, also bared they and Iligan Diocese’s Vicar-General Jemar Vera Cruz, head of the MTJP, have been receiving death threats through text messages.Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo in an interview with DXLS Sunday, criticized priests for their alleged political bias for a politician he did not name."We are not bad administrators and our history is good," he said.But Father Zaragoza said the participation of the church “is based on the moral issues on the turnout of election.”“I will go on fasting if those who tampered the CoCs will be declared the representative of our district," he said.The protesters raised their clenched fists and sang "Bayan Ko.”Councilor Chonilo Ruiz said, "with the law in our favor, we will win in this fight."Lawyers of the Genuine Opposition, led by Sixto Brillantes, have already filed their petition before Comelec to set aside the tampered CoCs.Brillantes also bared that "they are contemplating to file criminal charges against those who tampered the CoCs for electoral sabotage under R.A. 9369."Its just a matter of pinpointing those who were responsible for tampering the CoCs,” he said.Rep. Dimaporo argued that the petition of the opposition should be filed at the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 14 June 2007 07 59 51 )
Sukhran to MindaNews
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