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US embassy ikinalungkot ang karahasan sa halalan

05/14/2007 | 04:49 PM

Ikinalungkot ng US Embassy ang mga nagaganap na karahasan sa halalan nitong Lunes ngunit umaasa pa rin sila na magiging malinis ang resulta ng bilangan.

Tumanggi si US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop na magbigay ng pagtaya sa kabuuan ng halalan.

“It’s not something for us to assess. We have observers in various parts of the country to support the rule of law and democracy in the Philippines. We leave that to Philippine institutions,” ani Lussenhop.

Iginiit niya na hangad ng US na maging “patas, malinis at payapa” ang halalan.

May 86 poll observers na ipinadala ang US sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas para i-monitor ang proseso ng halalan at gumawa ng kanilang report.

“We have already expressed our sadness on the violence. But what is important is there is fair, transparent and peaceful elections and that’s what everybody wants to see,” sabi ni Lussenhop.

Sa pinakahuling ulat ng Philippine National Police nitong Lunes, may 114 katao ang namatay sa 191 election related violence simula noong Enero 2007. – GMANews.TV

2 hurt in Maguindanao grenade blast

05/14/2007 | 04:03 PM

Two people were injured after an unidentified motorcycle-riding man lobbed two grenades that exploded near an elementary school in Maguindanao province Monday afternoon.

Radio dzBB reported that the incident took place shortly before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared Monday’s mid-term elections “generally peaceful and orderly.”

Initial information indicated the incident took place in the Galakit Elementary School in Galakit village in Pagalungan town in Maguindanao.

Police are looking for the motorcycle-riding man who lobbed the grenades.

In Manila, meanwhile, Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr insisted the elections were “generally peaceful and orderly.”

He added there was no report of large-scale violence or irregularity, adding the turnout of voters was estimated at 70 to 75 percent. - GMANews.TV

Sunstar: 2 killed, 7 wounded in Basilan

 

Bong Garcia and Cheng Ordonez, Sunnex

05/14/2007 | 04:33 PM

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Two people were killed while seven others were wounded in separate incidents before and during the elections in this island province.

Col. Ramiro Alivio, chief of the 1st Marine Brigade, said the incidents have taken place in the towns of Akbar, Tuburan and Sumisip.

Among the victims were political candidates and supporters, according to Alivio.

They were either ambushed or attacked by gunmen allegedly hired by politicians.

Around 2 a.m. Monday, unidentified gunmen burned down the elementary school in Barangay Bakong, Sumisip.

Alivio said they have also received reports that firefight have broke out in Bubuan Island, Sumisip.

Security measures have been tightened and checkpoints were set up by the Marines in the different parts of the province.

Security is kept high in the province even after the closing of the precincts at 3:00 p.m. - Sunnex

gmanews

Watchdog claims fraud in Sulu town balloting

JOHANNA SISANTE, GMANews.TV

05/14/2007 | 04:23 PM

Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) on Monday said alleged incidents of fraud occurred in the southern Philippine town of Indanan in Sulu province.

In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Lente media officer Anne Elicaño said the group’s volunteers witnessed Board of Election Inspectors instigating election violations at the polling precinct in Pasil village, Indanan town.

Elicaño said election officers themselves were seen filling up the ballots, adding that ballot boxes there were being left open.

“Mismong board of election inspectors are filling up the ballots themselves,” Elicaño said. “Walang voters’ list, walang secrecy of ballots—ballot boxes are open.”

Worse, the election watchdog said that the presence of military and police personnel around the polling precinct added to the anxiety among the voters.

“Military and police (personnel) are all over the school… People are afraid to vote,” Elicaño said.

Elicaño said the group has also received reports of cheating in Lanao del Norte and Bacolod, although she noted that they could not provide details of these alleged poll fraud allegations.

Lente is an independent group composed of volunteer lawyers and paralegal personnel will watch over the canvass of votes. The group has deployed volunteers to various precincts all over the country and consolidates reported cases of irregularity in the conduct of the elections. These reports will be forwarded to the Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. - GMANews.TV

Sunstar: 2 killed, 7 wounded in Basilan

Bong Garcia and Cheng Ordonez, Sunnex

05/14/2007 | 04:33 PM

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Two people were killed while seven others were wounded in separate incidents before and during the elections in this island province.

Col. Ramiro Alivio, chief of the 1st Marine Brigade, said the incidents have taken place in the towns of Akbar, Tuburan and Sumisip.

Among the victims were political candidates and supporters, according to Alivio.

They were either ambushed or attacked by gunmen allegedly hired by politicians.

Around 2 a.m. Monday, unidentified gunmen burned down the elementary school in Barangay Bakong, Sumisip.

Alivio said they have also received reports that firefight have broke out in Bubuan Island, Sumisip.

Security measures have been tightened and checkpoints were set up by the Marines in the different parts of the province.

Security is kept high in the province even after the closing of the precincts at 3:00 p.m. - Sunnex

gmanews 

Sunstar: Wife takes over slot of slain Sarangani councilor

05/14/2007 | 04:38 PM

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Commission on Elections has allowed Elsie Ramos, wife of slain re-electionist councilor Edwin Ramos, to take the slot vacated by her husband.

Gunmen on Sunday night killed the re-electionist councilor in Maitum town in Sarangani Province.

The Comelec in Maitum said a vote for Edwin will be a vote for his wife Elsie.

Police report said Edwin Ramos,41, sustained two gunshot wounds after two gunmen fired at him from behind.

The victim was reportedly entertaining guests and supporters at around 7 p.m. at the front yard of the Ramos house in Barangay Maguling in that town when he was shot, police said.

Witnesses reportedly saw two men fleeing after the shooting. The incident happened a day after news reports broke out that Maitum mayor Felix Reganit would be arrested for allegedly masterminding the killing of his predecessor, the late George Yabes.

Yabes was shot dead in December by motorcycle-riding assassins. Reganit has continuously denied he has anything to do with the killing of Yabes. - Sun.Star Davao

gmanews

Sunstar: People power in Mati stops vote buying activity

Ben O. Tesiorna, Sun.Star

05/14/2007 | 06:50 PM

DAVAO CITY — Close to a thousand supporters of Mati mayoral candidate Michelle Rabat and Davao Oriental gubernatorial candidate Corazon Malanyaon surrounded a rice warehouse in Mati Monday afternoon after receiving reports that sacks of rice are being distributed to supporters of incumbent Governor Ma. Elena Palma Gil.

Richard Villacorte, aide to Mayor Francisco Rabat, said Rabat and Malanyaon’s supporter surrounded the East Coast Trading store owned by one Adelina Aponesto starting two in the afternoon Monday after they received reports that there was distribution of rice there.

Villacorte said about 50 supporters of Gil are still holed up inside the store and could not get out for fear that they would be lynched by the crowd. The supporters are reportedly from the Magsaysay area in Mati.

He said their lawyers are now working to secure a search warrant so they could get inside the store and get evidence of the alleged vote-buying activity there.

Villacorte said they already have video footage of the sacks of rice piled inside the compound of Aponesto. He said their supporters will remain barricading the area until such time that Aponesto admit giving rice to Palma Gil supporters.

It was learned that police authorities were already in the area. But Villacorte said they do not trust the police there and will remain vigilant to ensure that their political foes could not cheat.

In a text message, Gov Gil denied any hand in the alleged vote-buying saying she and her entire family are in Cateel town. - Sun.Star Davao

gmanews.tv 

2 dead, 8 hurt in Lanao clash between rivals’ supporters

05/14/2007 | 07:16 PM

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – At least two – a civilian and a soldier were killed and eight others were hurt when supporters of two local candidates in Tuburan, Lanao del Sur figured in a firefight.

The information came from Leo Alicias, office of civil defense chief in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who said the fighting broke out at about 11:00 noon, Monday, when armed men, identified with a local candidate arrived in Poblacion village.

“We have no details if those involved in the fighting belong to the police or the military,” Alicias said.

Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, ARMM police director in Autonomous confirmed the incident. He however said that based on initial reports, only one was killed and two were wounded in the incident. – GMANews.TV

Polls failed in 11 Mindanao towns amid security threats

05/14/2007 | 07:30 PM

The Commission on Elections on Monday declared failure of elections in 11 municipalities in Mindanao after teachers declined to serve as board of election inspectors (BEIs) amid security threats.

In a press briefing, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said despite augmentation of forces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), there was a failure of election in the municipalities of Bayang, Lumbatan, Madalum, Binidayan, Puales, Sultan Dumalondong, Lumba-Bayabao, Masiu, Kapai and Lumbayanague.

He said BEI assigned in the area backed out for fear of their lives. Unidentified people reportedly terrorized the teachers.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said they would schedule the elections the soonest possible time as it will affect in the ranking of senatorial candidates. He said the area has 60,000 to 70,000 registered voters.

While a failure of election was also declared in Caiontor village, municipality of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

Comelec reported around 7:25 am, a group of teachers, escorted by Army and police personnel, were walking toward the school when 20-armed men started firing at them.

The teachers lie down and asked their escorts not to retaliate as they might be trapped in the crossfire. When the armed men left, the BEIs run to a nearby village bringing with them election paraphernalia.

On the other hand, elections were postponed in various provinces.

The Comelec reported that elections in six precincts in Basilan were postponed after a misunderstanding with BEIs.

In the municipality of Barira, Shariff Kabunsuan, elections were postponed after supporters of Mayor Alex Tumawis refused to give the election paraphernalia. Comelec is yet to decide if they will declare a failure of election in the area.

The elections in Zamboanga del Norte were postponed due to the reported presence of Abu Sayyaf elements 50 kilometers from the Poblacion.

Earlier Monday, the Comelec en banc postponed the elections in Pantar, Lanao del Norte due to presence of some 2,000 unverified voters.

Abalos said they have nullified the registration of voters whose identity were questionable.

He said they will announce the resumption of the elections in the area within 30 days.

“All parties must agree on the date of elections,” Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, who is in-charge of the area, said.

Voting in at least 17 precincts in Biñan, Laguna, was delayed because teachers did not report. The teachers were reportedly not registered voters prompting the Comelec to designate new BEIs. The election extended until 6pm

In Pantao, where two bundles of ballots went missing, the voting started around 11 am when the replacement election paraphernalia arrived and the balloting was extended until 6 pm. - GMANews.TV