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A political analyst credited the “victory” of administration bets to fraudulent elections and the “unusual combination of Duterte’s popularity, systematic use of government resources, use of fear, and black propaganda and disinformation against progressive partylist groups.”

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo claimed that it was “Duterte’s magic” that made the administration senatorial bets win the elections.

Based on partial and unofficial results, eight candidates endorsed by the President are winning. They are releectionist Cynthia Villar, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano, former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, and reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

In an interview with Bulatlat, political analyst Dr. Temario Rivera said that while Duterte ranked high in popularity and performance surveys, other important factors should not be dismissed.

Rivera, who is also part of poll watchdog AES Watch, credited the “victory” of administration bets to fraudulent elections and the “unusual combination of Duterte’s popularity, systematic use of government resources, use of fear, and black propaganda and disinformation against progressive partylist groups.”

Related story: Analysts: Comelec violated the automation law

The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) shared the same analysis. “Duterte gave his minions free rein to use state funds and bureaucracies, to claim credit for programs already in place,” the group said.

Go, in particular, was allowed to falsely “own” various health, housing and disaster programs, the group said in a statement.

The MAT said state agencies, including state security forces, “were harnessed to attack the opposition, whether progressives or more traditional political parties.”

Poll watchdog Kontra Daya reported cases of death threats, harassment, red tagging and intimidation against Makabayan members and supporters on election day.  Policemen even distributed copies of a newsletter red tagging Makabayan party-lists on election day.

Rivera said many local politicians tagged in the narco list were intimidated and forced to support the administration.

Nuances

If at all, Rivera said, the Duterte magic only worked for Go and dela Rosa, who both also used government resources to boost their candidacy and spent millions in advertisements.

He said that other administration bets such as Villar, Cayetano and Marcos could have won even without endorsement from the president.

“They (Villar and Cayetano) are reelectionists and they have the money and resources. Marcos has a regional base, not only in Ilocos but also in Leyte,” Rivera explained.

Rivera noted that Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Lito Lapid and Ramon Revilla Jr. were not endorsed by Duterte but made it to the top 12.

The political analyst also noted that in the local elections, there were candidates who won over the administration bets. This includes former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who defeated Anthony del Rosario. 2nd District Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo also lost his reelection bid to outgoing Vice Gov. Alan R. Dujali.

Rivera said the defeat of del Rosario and Floreindo clan in Davao region is a big loss to Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Rivera also noted that some of the local candidates tagged in Duterte’s narco list won the elections. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 27 politicians named in the list were declared winners.

Weaknesses of Otso Diretso

Rivera also factored in what he described as the weakness in the structure and organization of Otso Diretso.

“Realistically, it’s difficult to counter the financial resources of administration candidates. There’s also massive vote buying and cheating. You should counter these with organization,” Rivera said.

The political analyst observed that Otso Diretso only became active during the election period and did not engage in organizing, especially at the local level.

Rivera said opposition candidates should have been more open in forging alliances against a “big enemy.”

The post Duterte magic? ‘Fraud, use of gov’t resources, fear are key factors in elections’ appeared first on Bulatlat.

“The COMELEC had senselessly put the lives and safety of thousands of public school teachers in grave danger by sending them to battle with defective armaments.”

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – A nationwide group of teachers called on the Commission on Elections to own up to the sufferings that public school teachers had to endure as a result of what they referred to as the “worst automated elections” in the country.

“As many sectors question the conduct and results of the 2019 midterm polls, our teachers can only sympathize. Our citizens were deprived of clean and credible elections as the poll workers were put in jeopardy, shortchanged and neglected,” the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said in a statement.

In an earlier Bulatlat report, public school teachers belied the claims of the Comelec that the recently-concluded midterm election was “generally peaceful,” given the glitches they have encountered, including the delays brought by the Voter Registration and Verification Machine, inadequate election paraphernalia, and defective SD cards.

Election watchdog Kontra Daya noted that the machine errors were worse compared to the 2016 presidential elections, considering that this is the fourth time that an automated election was held in the country.

Read: Machine errors worse in today’s polls than in 2016, Kontra Daya reveals

Youth and students, and members of progressive groups have led protest actions, assailing that the recently-concluded midterm elections was rigged. Groups have been questioning the seven-hour delay in reflection of election results in the transparency server.

Read: Groups protest against ‘rigged election’

“The COMELEC had senselessly put the lives and safety of thousands of public school teachers in grave danger by sending them to battle with defective armaments,” the teachers group lamented.

Still no allowance

The hard work that public school teachers have put up has yet to be reciprocated by the Comelec, the group said, as teachers “were made to come to local Comelec offices” to follow up on their allowances and honoraria.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers said public school teachers who served as election officers were initially told that their respective allowances and honoraria shall be provided to them upon submission of elections returns.

Going to the local Comelec offices, ACT added, necessitates “additional effort and transportation expenses just to claim their rightful compensation.”

They also assailed the Comelec’s failure to act on their request for lawyers to be deployed in polling precincts on election day, as it could have spared teacher-poll workers from threats and harassments and allow them to perform their duty “without the undue fear and worry.”

Comelec must be held accountable

ACT said the Comelec has “itself to blame for the growing public non-acceptance of the conduct and results of the 2019 elections.”

The group added, “The people witnessed the worst forms of electoral fraud as in the use of government resources by the highest officials and most influential politicians tolerated by the Commission.”

The post Own up to ‘worst automated elections’ ever, poll body urged appeared first on Bulatlat.

If these policies are enacted, Elago said, it would “only legitimize the systemic attacks the state has undertaken against those critical of its administration.”

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Following the passage of ROTC bill on third reading, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago warned of more railroading of bills prioritized by the Duterte administration as there are only three weeks more before the break on June 7.

Aside from institutionalizing mandatory ROTC in senior high school, Congress will also discuss the lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility and the amendments to the Human Security Act.

“Several of these legislations were immediately passed on second reading before session was suspended last February. Without any proper debate or discussion on the effects of these policies to the youth and people, this government rushed these policies to put them in immediate queue once session resumes” said Elago.

If these policies are enacted, Elago said, it would “only legitimize the systemic attacks the state has undertaken against those critical of its administration.”

“Numerous campaigns led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police were launched to create false hysteria within universities by resorting to the red-tagging of nationalist and progressive groups falsely accused as recruiters and members of the New Peoples’ Army,” Elago said.

Human rights group Karapatan also expressed concern on the possible railroading of what they described as “draconian measures” of the administration. Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said that with the questionable result of the midterm polls they “already foresee a Senate and a House of Representatives dominated by allies of President Duterte who will take on his dangerous legislative agenda.”

“Recent statements of Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto indicate that the administration is indeed hellbent on passing proposed policies that will hasten the constriction of whatever is left of the so-called democratic space in the country,” Palabay said.

Karapatan is opposing amendments to the HSA saying that it only enables the “wholesale violation of people’s civil liberties and political rights, including the right to freedom of expression and due process.”

Read: Proposed amendments to Human Security Act and Duterte’s state terror

Other amendments to the HSA also include the denial of due process to individuals and groups in the proscription process and in the course of conducting surveillance, and giving unchecked powers to State authorities to arbitrarily arrest and legally detain persons for 14 days, making them vulnerable to all forms of rights violations.

Also under the amended HSA, Palabay said, the “provisions to exact accountability from state forces, such as the P500,000 per day penalty to be paid by authorities for individuals later acquitted, have also been surreptitiously removed.”

Palabay said “these acts and the proposed amendments to the 1987 Philippine Constitution are the reasons why Duterte and his allies have worked for a new Senate that will rubber-stamp its anti-people policies.”

“We should continue to oppose these forms of suppression on people’s rights, as well as efforts of Duterte and his ilk to establish a full-blown dictatorship,” she added.

The post Groups caution against railroading of repressive bills appeared first on Bulatlat.

“We should continue to oppose these forms of suppression on people’s rights as well as efforts of Duterte and his ilk to establish a full-blown dictatorship.”

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Makabayan bloc assailed the passage of the Lower House of the bill requiring senior high school students to undergo the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) last Monday, May 20.

In a statement, Gabriela Women’s Party condemned the approval of House Bill 8961 on third and final reading despite the lack of substantive debates. The group pointed out that the “period of interpellation and debate on the bill was cut short in February to give way for its hasty approval on second reading.”

“We in Gabriela were not given a chance to interpellate the sponsors of the bill on the prevalence of rape and sexual abuses committed by ROTC officers,” the group said in a statement.

They also warned of possible railroading of bills that is under the priority list of President Duterte such as the lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility and amendments to the Human Security Act.

On Monday, as soon as the House of Representatives resumed its session, the Lower House voted for the passage of House Bill 8961with 167 votes in favor, four against and zero abstention.

The mandatory ROTC was filed in the Lower House after President Duterte urged Congress to pass a law requiring senior high school students in private and public education institutions to undergo ROTC training.

‘Hotbed of abuse’

Contrary to Duterte’s belief that the ROTC will instill patriotism and love of country among the youth, Kabataan Party-list believes that the program is a hotbed of abuse and corruption.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said there are numerous cases of abuses, hazing, abuse of power, corruption, and even deaths of current and former cadets that continue to surface in the news and through reports received by their office and through social media and other channels.

Previously the group cited the case of two female cadets of Polytechnic University of the Philippines who complained of hazing committed by senior cadet officers in 2014; the videos that trended online showing ROTC officials severely hazing cadets at the University of Mindanao-Tagum City in 2016; the allegations of sexual abuse at the Benguet State University and complaints from the ROTC cadets in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig.

Just recently on March 11, Elmer Decilao, an ROTC corps commander at Iloilo State College of Fisheries, allegedly killed ROTC cadet Willy Amihoy using a lead pipe.

Read: Hazing victim calls for justice, ROTC abolition

ACT Teachers Party Rep. Antonio Tinio also said the institutionalization of mandatory ROTC will only be exposing youth to more harassment in their schools.

“Proponents of the bill insist that having mandatory ROTC will instill nationalism in the youth yet they swiftly removed subjects on Philippine history and Philippine literature in the curriculum. Mandatory ROTC will not teach the youth love of country, instead it would teach them how to be blind followers and discourage critical thinking,” Tinio said in a statement.

He added that Duterte should be reminded of the reason why the mandatory ROTC in college was removed. It was after the massive protests of students, teachers and parents against ROTC due to the killing of University of Santo Tomas student and ROTC cadet, Mark Welson Chua in 2001.  In 2002, ROTC became optional under the National Service Training Program Act where students could opt to serve by providing literacy training, civic welfare or through the ROTC.

The post Makabayan bloc slams passage of ROTC on 3rd reading appeared first on Bulatlat.

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Dr. Temario Rivera of AES Watch pointed out that Comelec did not fulfill the requirements set by the law with the absence of a comprehensive source code review and digital signatures, the failure of final testing and sealing, and the absence of a contingency plan.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – In the fourth automated elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was once again found violating the provisions of the Automated Elections System (AES) Law.

In an interview with Bulatlat, Dr. Temario Rivera of AES Watch pointed out that Comelec did not fulfill the requirements set by the law with the absence of a comprehensive source code review and digital signatures, the failure of final testing and sealing, and the absence of a contingency plan.

Rivera said Comelec’s non-compliance with the law was demonstrated by the immensity of technical glitches, corrupted SD cards, malfunctioning of machines, among others.

“It is gross inefficiency if we are to be rather kind and benign with Comelec or worse, there might be deliberate attempt to sabotage and manipulate the elections,” Rivera said.

Violations

Rivera said there has been no comprehensive and definite source code review since the automated elections in 2010. He said Comelec did not provide ample time for the reviewers.

Republic Act (RA) No. 9369 defines source code as “human-readable instructions that define what the computer equipment will do.” Source codes contain instructions for counting and canvassing votes – which, if manipulated, could lead to fraud.

A source code review is the process by which experts test the source code to check compliance with technical requirements; spot possible flaws; and, ensure that there is no malicious code that may be used in fraud.

“Under AES, no way that you can fully trust the machines in the absence of honest-to-goodness source code review,” Rivera said.

In an opinion piece, AES Watch Spokesperson Nelson Celis, revealed the non completion of the source code review and its certification on time. Comelec extended the source code review until March 2019, two months before the elections. The law states that three months before the elections, the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), through an independent international certifying entity, should have already certified that the AES is operating properly, securely and accurately.

In an article, Lito Averia, an IT expert from the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), said that only selected parts of the source code were reviewed. The review did not include compilation of the source code (a process of converting the source code into its machine-executable version) and a test run of the programs.

In an interview with ANC, Celis also said the “meet-me rooms,” which allegedly host undeclared servers and intercept data from the vote counting machines (VCM) to the Comelec servers are against the Omnibus Election Code.

He said the VCMs should be directly sending election returns to the municipal board of canvassers, not to the queuing server.

Besides the source code review, Rivera said, Comelec did not also implement the digital signature, which will trace and identify specifically the source of transmitted VCM-counted votes.

Sections 22 and 25 of RA 9369 state that the election returns/certificates of canvass transmitted electronically and digitally signed shall be considered as official election results and shall be used as the basis for the proclamation of a winning candidate.

Rivera said corrupted SDs can also be programmed to alter VCM votes. “We don’t know if the so-called corrupted SDs were done deliberately,” he said.

The political analyst also said the final testing and sealing of VCMs was done a week before the elections. He said that under the law, the machines should have been certified by a technical evaluation committee three months before election day.

Poll watchdogs Kontra Daya, BaBaE! Network and Namfrel noted during the conduct of final testing and sealing in some key polling places in Manila and Quezon City that one out of 15 VCMs was potentially not working. They also observed difficulty in initializing VCMs, paper jam during the printing of election returns and defective voter registration verification machines (VRVMs).

Even more glaring, Rivera said, is the absence of any contingency plan as required by law.

These issues, Rivera said, were the same problems seen by poll watchdogs since 2010.

“Comelec knew these problems, which have been recurring, bu they refused to act on these,” Rivera said.

Rivera lamented that even the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC), which is mandated to monitor the issues surrounding the automated elections, has not been decisive in addressing the problems raised by poll watchdogs.

“Kabit-kabit na. [There’s also] lack of accountability of public officials involved in the process,” Rivera said.

Transparency

Rivera agreed with other watchdogs’ verdict that this midterm elections is the worst so far in terms of lack of transparency.

Rivera said that with the current system, voters have no way of determining if the votes being transmitted and canvassed are correct or not.

AES Watch has been pushing for transparency at the precinct level through a hybrid election system. Rivera explained that the votes at the precinct level would be counted manually through the use of a computer and a projector. Transmission and canvassing will be done electronically. The votes then can be counter checked.

Rivera said that unless the issue of transparency is resolved, the next automated elections would be the same.

The post Analysts: Comelec violated the automation law appeared first on Bulatlat.