Partylist report 14

1 BUHAY 862,797
2 BAYAN MUNA 691,907
3 CIBAC 504,168
4 GABRIELA 400,790
5 APEC 395,319
6 A TEACHER 353,272
7 ALAGAD 346,671
8 ABONO 324,877
9 BUTIL 318,592
10 AKBAYAN 294,628
11 AGAP 289,817
12 BATAS 266,844
13 ANAKPAWIS 259,551
14 ARC 257,865
15 COOP-NATCCO 255,834
16 AN WARAY 203,992
17 FPJPM 189,922
18 ABA-AKO 171,180
19 KABATAAN 159,906
20 SENIOR CITIZENS 156,075
21 VFP 155,374
22 KAKUSA 152,459
23 BANAT 145,899
24 UNI-MAD 143,039
25 ABS 142,530
26 ABAKADA 125,575
27 BANTAY 125,371
28 1-UTAK 117,249
29 COCOFED 112,141
30 AGHAM 110,670
31 AMIN 98,771
32 AT 98,482
33 ANG KASANGGA 96,632
34 ANAK 93,542
35 AVE 92,708
36 DIWA 81,348
37 YACAP 79,008
38 ANAD 78,766
39 PM 73,518
40 TUCP 73,073
41 SANLAKAS 72,352
42 ANC 68,581
43 BIGKIS 57,074
44 ABC 56,919
45 PBA 52,186
46 PMAP 47,200
47 APOI 46,155
48 BAGO 44,973
49 BANDILA 43,646
50 ABANSE! PINAY 42,266
51 AKSA 41,878
52 AGBIAG! 41,737
53 AKAPIN 41,523
54 GRECON 40,104
55 AHON 38,831
56 BP 37,533
57 SPI 37,137
58 ASAHAN MO 34,691
59 ALIF 32,334
60 AMANG 30,615
61 KALAHI 30,054
62 BT, 29,756
63 AHONBAYAN 27,624
64 SB 27,259
65 PEP 25,701
66 ALMANA 25,376
67 ASAP 25,260
68 ABA ILONGGO 24,907
69 BABAE KA 24,849
70 VENDORS 24,222
71 NELFFI 22,317
72 A SMILE 21,255
73 SUARA 21,040
74 AAPS 19,821
75 AANGAT KA PILIPINO 19,350
76 AAWAS 17,061
77 ASSALAM 15,157
78 AG 12,830
79 HAPI 12,128
80 BIYAYANG BUKID 11,932
81 AGING PINOY 11,891
82 APO 11,728
83 ADD-TRIBAL 11,256
84 ADD 10,770
85 BAHANDI 10,289
86 ABAY PARAK 9,748
87 ATS 9,621
88 BUKLOD FILIPINA 7,379
89 AA-KASOSYO 5,823
90 LYPAD 5,645
91 UMDJ 5,242
92 KASAPI 4,052
93 SM 3,708

SENATORIAL CANVASS REPORT No. 14 (Ranked)

SENATORIAL CANVASS REPORT No. 14 (Ranked)
As of May 25, 2007 – 12:00 PM

1 LEGARDA, Loren B. 12,686,339
2 ESCUDERO, Francis Joseph G. 12,462,397
3 VILLAR, Manuel, Jr. B. 10,515,329
4 LACSON, Panfilo M. 10,506,743
5 PANGILINAN, Francis N. 10,007,122
6 AQUINO, Benigno Simeon III C. 9,646,506
7 ANGARA, Edgardo J. 8,544,777
8 ARROYO, Joker P. 7,951,547
9 CAYETANO, Allan Peter S. 7,895,595
10 HONASAN, Gregorio B. 7,845,101
11 TRILLANES, Antonio IV F 7,536,884
12 ZUBIRI, Juan Miguel F. 7,266,831
13 RECTO, Ralph G. 7,246,129
14 PIMENTEL, Aquilino L. 7,148,569
15 DEFENSOR, Michael T. 6,656,549
16 PICHAY, Prospero, Jr. A. 6,511,151
17 ROCO, Sonia M. 5,748,701
18 MONTANO, Cesar M. 5,265,860
19 SOTTO, Vicente III C. 5,040,633
20 OSMEÑA, John Henry R. 4,711,054
21 MAGSAYSAY, Vicente P. 4,265,754
22 COSETENG, Anna Dominique M. 3,503,823
23 ORETA, Teresa Tao A. 2,847,866
24 SINGSON, Luis C. 2,806,706
25 GOMEZ, Richard I. 1,748,932
26 KIRAM, Jamalul D 1,231,105
27 CHAVEZ, Melchor G. 597,617
28 BAUTISTA, Martin D 472,404
29 PAREDES, Zosimo Jesus II M. 456,294
30 CAYETANO, Joselito P. 339,979
31 SISON, Adrian O. 239,347
32 LOZANO, Oliver O. 195,604
33 WOOD, Victor N. 194,794
34 ESTRELLA, Antonio L. 194,033
35 CANTAL, Felix C. 78,588
36 ORPILLA, Eduardo F. 64,682
37 ENCISO, Ruben C 63,059

PARTYLIST CANVASS REPORT No. 13

PARTYLIST CANVASS REPORT No. 13
As of May 25, 2007 – 12:00 PM
1 BUHAY 807,865
2 BAYAN MUNA 662,743
3 CIBAC 464,720
4 GABRIELA 376,988
5 APEC 364,813
6 ALAGAD 344,442
7 A TEACHER 333,901
8 BUTIL 316,922
9 AGAP 285,661
10 AKBAYAN 276,708
11 ANAKPAWIS 251,322
12 ARC 245,919
13 BATAS 244,499
14 COOP-NATCCO 236,132
15 AN WARAY 200,964
16 FPJPM 178,468
17 ABA-AKO 158,918
18 KABATAAN 153,405
19 SENIOR CITIZENS 148,658
20 VFP 145,803
21 KAKUSA 144,508
22 ABONO 138,426
23 UNI-MAD 137,725
24 BANAT 120,070
25 BANTAY 118,293
26 ABAKADA 117,465
27 1-UTAK 114,576
28 ABS 111,179
29 COCOFED 110,173
30 AGHAM 104,698
31 ANG KASANGGA 93,639
32 AVE 91,285
33 AT 88,882
34 ANAK 88,737
35 AMIN 77,931
36 ANAD 77,657
37 PM 70,895
38 TUCP 70,666
39 DIWA 69,669
40 SANLAKAS 67,341
41 ANC 66,743
42 ABC 55,310
43 YACAP 54,651
44 BIGKIS 52,860
45 PBA 50,186
46 PMAP 45,418
47 BAGO 42,920
48 APOI 42,601
49 BANDILA 42,458
50 AKSA 40,329
51 AKAPIN 39,795
52 AGBIAG! 39,673
53 GRECON 39,428
54 ABANSE! PINAY 38,853
55 AHON 35,322
56 BP 33,284
57 SPI 33,207
58 ASAHAN MO 32,677
59 KALAHI 29,137
60 AMANG 28,955
61 ALIF 28,230
62 AHONBAYAN 26,600
63 BT, 25,192
64 ALMANA 24,809
65 ASAP 24,153
66 ABA ILONGGO 23,773
67 SB 23,684
68 BABAE KA 22,971
69 VENDORS 22,915
70 NELFFI 22,099
71 A SMILE 19,992
72 SUARA 18,510
73 AANGAT KA PILIPINO 18,135
74 AAWAS 16,718
75 AAPS 16,338
76 PEP 13,633
77 ASSALAM 12,752
78 AG 12,158
79 HAPI 11,575
80 AGING PINOY 11,153
81 APO 10,879
82 BAHANDI 10,132
83 BIYAYANG BUKID 10,068
84 ADD 9,871
85 ABAY PARAK 9,481
86 ATS 9,232
87 ADD-TRIBAL 8,839
88 BUKLOD FILIPINA 6,900
89 AA-KASOSYO 5,537
90 LYPAD 5,191
91 UMDJ 5,036
92 KASAPI 3,832
93 SM 3,554

SENATORIAL CANVASS REPORT No. 13 (Ranked)

SENATORIAL CANVASS REPORT No. 13 (Ranked)
As of May 25, 2007 – 12:00 PM

1 LEGARDA, Loren B. 12,427,447
2 ESCUDERO, Francis Joseph G. 12,228,444
3 LACSON, Panfilo M. 10,319,627
4 VILLAR, Manuel, Jr. B. 10,308,244
5 PANGILINAN, Francis N. 9,828,139
6 AQUINO, Benigno Simeon III C. 9,464,030
7 ANGARA, Edgardo J. 8,377,247
8 ARROYO, Joker P. 7,802,805
9 CAYETANO, Allan Peter S. 7,759,000
10 HONASAN, Gregorio B. 7,713,183
11 TRILLANES, Antonio IV F 7,392,746
12 ZUBIRI, Juan Miguel F. 7,134,697
13 RECTO, Ralph G. 7,118,666
14 PIMENTEL, Aquilino L. 7,019,742
15 DEFENSOR, Michael T. 6,525,889
16 PICHAY, Prospero, Jr. A. 6,399,205
17 ROCO, Sonia M. 5,642,148
18 MONTANO, Cesar M. 5,164,866
19 SOTTO, Vicente III C. 4,961,274
20 OSMEÑA, John Henry R. 4,626,112
21 MAGSAYSAY, Vicente P. 4,189,380
22 COSETENG, Anna Dominique M. 3,430,752
23 ORETA, Teresa Tao A. 2,775,612
24 SINGSON, Luis C. 2,750,900
25 GOMEZ, Richard I. 1,713,074
26 KIRAM, Jamalul D 1,168,226
27 CHAVEZ, Melchor G. 584,917
28 BAUTISTA, Martin D 459,174
29 PAREDES, Zosimo Jesus II M. 442,434
30 CAYETANO, Joselito P. 332,777
31 SISON, Adrian O. 230,961
32 LOZANO, Oliver O. 190,340
33 ESTRELLA, Antonio L. 189,820
34 WOOD, Victor N. 187,508
35 CANTAL, Felix C. 76,438
36 ORPILLA, Eduardo F. 62,678
37 ENCISO, Ruben C 61,092

Senators/Partylist May 26, 2007 5:52 pm Batch 36

1 Legarda, Loren 14,088,197
2 Escudero, Chiz 13,838,440
3 Lacson, Ping 11,951,942
4 Villar, Manuel 11,609,985
5 Aquino, Noynoy* 11,041,088
6 Pangilinan, Kiko* 11,035,941
7 Angara, Edgardo 9,648,879 8 Cayetano, Alan Peter** 8,970,598
9 Honasan, Gringo 8,966,150
10 Arroyo, Joker 8,928,756
11 Trillanes, Antonio 8,657,146
12 Pimentel, Koko 8,398,589
13 Zubiri, Juan Miguel 8,167,850
14 Recto, Ralph 7,947,766
15 Defensor, Mike 7,492,891
16 Pichay, Prospero 7,378,468
17 Roco, Sonia 6,543,428
18 Montano, Cesar 5,974,219
19 Osmena, John 5,696,910
20 Sotto, Tito 5,584,870
21 Magsaysay, Vic 4,884,820
22 Coseteng, Nikki 4,111,747
23 Oreta, Tessie 3,221,026
24 Singson, Chavit 3,192,851
25 Gomez, Richard 2,153,537
26 Kiram, Jamalul 1,792,619
27 Chavez, Melchor 697,171
28 Paredes, Zosimo 672,665
29 Bautista, Martin 656,970
30 Cayetano, Joselito*** 439,349
31 Sison, Adrian 396,528
32 Lozano, Oliver 345,730
33 Estrella, Antonio 321,468
34 Wood, Victor 299,059
35 Orpilla, Ed 200,486
36 Enciso, Ruben 168,285
37 Cantal, Felix 154,616
Partylist
BUHAY 510,305
BAYAN MUNA 444,392
CIBAC 326,559
APEC 309,655
GABRIELA 307,001
A TEACHER 241,393
AKBAYAN 207,475
COOP-NATCCO 202,449
ANAKPAWIS 176,333
ARC 155,730
AMIN 155,071
ALAGAD 148,831
BATAS 145,772
AGAP 145,585
BUTIL 143,188
AN WARAY 134,774
ABONO 132,096
ABA-AKO 118,950
ANAD 114,230
ABS 113,896
FPJPM 108,674
KAKUSA 105,961
SENIOR CITIZENS 99,430
VFP 99,416
KABATAAN 98,089
ABANSE! PINAY 88,775
COCOFED 87,273
BANAT 87,060
TUCP 79,469
AT 78,375
1-UTAK 78,171
UNI-MAD 76,352
ABAKADA 75,787 Precints Reported:
ANG KASANGGA 74,057 129,058 of 224,748
ANAK 72,576
AGHAM 70,789 Percentage Reported
DIWA 69,541 57.42%
ALIF 62,513
BANTAY 59,460
SANLAKAS 57,617
KALAHI 57,565
AVE 56,361
SUARA 52,015
PM 49,328
UMDJ 48,936
YACAP 48,249
APOI 47,731
AKAPIN 43,751
ABC 42,510
GRECON 40,482
ABA ILONGGO 37,198
AKSA 34,128
ASSALAM 34,114
NELFFI 32,754
AGBIAG! 31,885
ASAHAN MO 31,568
PMAP 31,187
BANDILA 29,497
A SMILE 29,021
SPI 28,928
AHON 28,380
ADD 26,372
BAGO 25,883
PBA 25,866 Precints Reported:
ANC 25,541 129,058 of 224,748
HAPI 24,688
BAHANDI 24,494 Percentage Reported
AMANG 23,660 57.42%
AHONBAYAN 23,608
BIGKIS 23,306
PEP 23,283
BABAE KA 21,694
BTM 21,372
ASAP 21,136
SB 20,904
BIYAYANG BUKID 20,451
BP 20,336
BUKLOD FILIPINA 19,311
ADD-TRIBAL 19,287
APO 19,138
AAPS 18,626
LYPAD 18,407
VENDORS 17,524
AANGAT KA PILIPINO 17,106
ABAY PARAK 16,320
AGING PINOY 14,792
ALMANA 14,583
AG 12,295
AAWAS 10,371
AA-KASOSYO 9,660
KASAPI 9,165
SM 8,967
ATS 7,270

Poll failure in 5 Lanao villages

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 05:46pm (Mla time) 05/26/2007
MARAWI CITY — Failure of elections was again declared in at least five
barangay or villages in Lanao Del Sur after gunmen opened fire on a
convoy on its way to deliver ballot boxes in remote schools in Pualas.

In other areas where special elections were held Saturday, firefights
and confrontations also erupted despite the deployment of more than
5,000 soldiers in at least 13 towns.

There are also initial reports the special elections also failed in the
municipality of Butig, where problems in the clustering of precincts
also triggered tension between rival political parties.

“There are apparently some groups who want the elections to be
postponed again,” Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Saturday morning as reports came in one by one.

Bullets from what appeared to be M16 rifles rained on a military truck
escorting election workers on their way to deliver ballot boxes and
election paraphernalia for five barangays in Pualas, which is more than an
hour away from Marawi City, where Comelec set up a monitoring center.

The election materials failed to reach the Yaran Elementary School,
where precincts for barangays Yaran, Dapao, Notong, Bualan and Bantayan
are located.

Comelec Task Force Lanao member Teopisto Elnas, who trooped to Pualas
after receiving a distress call from the special action officer assigned
there, said they had to declare a failure of elections in the five
barangay.

“I will propose that elections in these barangays be held tomorrow
(Sunday) since all election workers and materials are already here,” he
said after meeting with election workers and local candidates at the
Pualas National High School.

This second postponement of elections affected close to 2,000 voters in
nine precincts.

He said local candidates had aired problems over the clustering of
precincts, of residents having to vote in another barangay.

The candidates explained their
supporters could not vote in another barangay because of intense
rivalry among villages.

This was also one of the reasons elections in Pualas did not push
through on May 14. Emerging from the meeting Saturday, while two military
trucks loaded with soldiers and two armored vehicle waited outside,
Elnas said the candidates had already agreed on a new clustering of
precincts.

But voting pushed through in the 18 remaining barangay in Pualas, most
of which were clustered at the Pualas Elementary School.

Poll watcher Adima Saripadama told the Inquirer, parent company of
INQUIRER.net that balloting began at 8 a.m. without any untoward
incident. Unlike in the metropolis, there were also no problems of voters who could not find their names on the voters’ list.

In the town of Kapai, bursts of gunfire also rang out Saturday
afternoon.

In phone calls asking for help from the monitoring center in Marawi
City, where Sarmiento stayed all day, the special action officer could be
heard crying, as gunshots rang out in the background.

“It was very peaceful in the morning. But in the afternoon, we
heard successive gunshots,” lawyer Aleli Ramirez, assigned to Kapai, told
the Inquirer.

There are no reports of any violence yet from these towns, which also
held special elections: Lumbatan, Marogong, Kapatagan, Sultan
Dumalondong, Lumbayanague, Madalum, Lumba Bayabao, Masiu, Binidayan and Bayang.

In an attempt to ensure a peaceful exercise, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines took charge of the security arrangements, leaving policemen
to just perform their normal functions.

Sarmiento explained he received reports of police officers being
partisan to some local candidates.

Elections failed in the 13 towns on May 14 after some members of the
Board of Election Inspectors and some Election Officers refused to report
for work out of fear.

2 RP health projects win World Bank grants

By Doris Dumlao
Inquirer
Last updated 01:32am (Mla time) 05/26/2007
MANILA, Philippines—Two health-oriented projects from the Philippines won grants from the $4-million (P184 million) award pool of the 2007 Global Development Marketplace competition held jointly by the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In a press statement yesterday, the World Bank announced that two projects from the Philippines, together with 20 other projects from 13 countries, won grants in this year’s competition titled “Improving Results in Health, Nutrition and Population for the Poor.”

The first Philippine winner is a project of Asian Alliance of Appropriate Technology Practitioners Inc. (Approtech Asia) that will train 200 street food vendors in Metro Manila in preparing highly nutritious, hygienic, affordable food packages from indigenous plants and animals and provide common hygienic kitchen facilities for these food vendors.

The other winner is a project of the International Resources Group (IRG)-Philippines that will set up two health banks for the poor in Obando, Bulacan.

The health banks will give out milk, vitamin supplements and medicines to children in exchange for recyclable goods.

The winning projects were awarded grant funds of up to $200,000 (P9.2 million).

The Development Marketplace is a competitive grant program that identifies and supports emerging development ideas. It has awarded some $40 million (P1.8 billion) to more than 1,000 projects through global and country-level competitions since 1998.

This year’s competition drew a record high of more than 2,900 applicants. Through a vigorous assessment process by health and development experts from inside and outside of the World Bank, the applicants were narrowed down to 104 finalists, who showcased their ideas at the bank’s headquarters last May 22-23.

Other RP entries

Nine entries from the Philippines made it to the list of 104 finalists, of which two eventually won. The seven other finalist projects from the Philippines are:

“The Carabao Mosquito Trap: Expanding the Benefits of Carabao from Livelihood and Nutrition into Malaria Protection” of the University of the Philippines;

“Roving Feeding Center: Bringing Nutrition to Malnourished Children in Rural Areas” of LAMBS Agri Mechanical;

“MicroNutrient Express Capsules” of Buhi Marine Worldwide Supply Inc.;

“Health Insurance for Street Children” of Bahay Tuluyan Inc.;

“International 2-Stroke Retrofit Project” of Envirofit International;

“FP on Wheels: Improving Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning (FP) Among Tricycle Drivers,” of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America International;

“Information Technology Systems for Tuberculosis” of the University of the Philippines, Manila.

Failure of elections intentional–Moro group

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 01:59am (Mla time) 05/26/2007
MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections might have blamed the postponement of the May 14 elections in 13 towns in Lanao del Sur on election officers and workers being too afraid to report for work, but certain quarters believe the move was intentional.

“The postponement of elections would give the administration a chance to maneuver the results to help their candidates who are faring poorly to be in the Magic 12,” Zaynab Ampatuan, first nominee of the party-list group Suara Bangsamoro, said yesterday.

Genuine Opposition lawyer Benjamin Lanto wondered why the Comelec did not deploy soldiers to Lanao del Sur on May 14, considering that the poll body supposedly already knew that violence was likely to erupt in the province.

Four of the 13 towns that will hold special elections today also had to hold a special exercise in the 2004 presidential contest.

But Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the reasons for the postponement of the elections were legitimate.

“These allegations are unfair and baseless. The elections in these towns really failed,” he told the Inquirer.

Still, a mayoral candidate said the postponement would allow “flying voters” to vote again.

These double-registered voters already voted in their hometowns in nearby provinces on May 14. With the special elections, they can vote again using different names, the candidate said.

It is easy to spot flying voters, according to a van driver.

They arrive aboard jeeps from other towns and cities. Native residents don’t know them, he said.

And they have many reasons to risk their lives: From P2,000 to P7,000 each, according to National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections provincial chair Hadji Abdullah Dalidig.

But Dalidig told the Inquirer that the election officers were to blame: “They did not do anything. They did not delete the names of questionable registrants.”

Party-list voters surge in Zambo Sur, Tawi-Tawi

By Christian V. Esguerra
Inquirer
Last updated 01:24am (Mla time) 05/26/2007
MANILA, Philippines—Was it another case of election fraud, or were the voters in two Mindanao provinces suddenly just too keen on party-list groups?

Zamboanga del Sur yielded a voter turnout of 322,807 for party-list groups alone, representing a 219-percent increase from the party-list elections just three years ago, according to the Task Force Poll Watch of the Genuine Opposition and five militant party-list groups.

Not to be outdone, Tawi-Tawi registered an 89-percent voter turnout for party-list groups, drawing even more suspicion from the task force. This is because, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño pointed out yesterday, the national average for the increase in total party-list votes this year was only 30 percent.

“So it’s either the people in these two provinces raised their political awareness on party-list groups all of a sudden, or there was massive vote manipulation,” Casino told the Inquirer at the task force’s headquarters in Quezon City.

He said the second possibility seemed much more convincing, considering the huge number of additional votes that party-list groups identified with Malacañang supposedly enjoyed because of the spike in voter turnout.

Alif

The task force showed the Inquirer how it traced alleged “vote-padding” in favor of groups like Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (Alif) in Zamboanga del Sur.

Alif, whose incumbent representative is Acmad Tomawis, enjoyed at least 22,011 additional votes in 15 of 28 municipalities in the province, according to a consolidated report by the task force.

The alleged increase was biggest at 2,000 in the town of Margosatubig and also at Pitogo. In the certificate of votes (CoV), Alif got only 114 in Margosatubig, but the result was jacked up to 2,114 in the summary of votes (SoV), the report said.

In Pitogo, Alif supposedly registered only 108 votes in the CoV, but had 2,108 in the SoV.

A closer look at the task force’s report showed that numerals were simply added to the CoV count to pad the votes in the SoV. Alif’s nine votes in Simimot, for instance, rose to 1,090 in the SoV. In Josefina town, its four votes went up to 641.

Yacap

The task force said the questionable high voter turnout in Tawi-Tawi also appeared to favor another party-list group believed to be fronting for Malacañang.

The Youth Against Corruption and Poverty (Yacap) was tops in the province with 21,966 votes, beating rival party-list groups based in Mindanao.

“It’s like Chavit Singson being the top vote-getter in Maguindanao,” Casiño said, referring to the administration senatorial candidate whose political bailiwick is Ilocos Sur.

Casiño said the results of the party-list elections in Zamboanga del Sur and Tawi-Tawi reminded him of a meeting with a known “political operator” about three weeks before the May 14 elections.

He said that during the meeting at a five-star hotel in Makati, the operator told him that Mindanao would be “the primary source of votes for party-list groups.”

The Inquirer earlier reported that the operator—a former critic of President Macapagal-Arroyo—was involved in the sale of party-list nominations. He was supposedly working with another political operator, a namesake of a former House Speaker identified with Malacañang’s Office of External Affairs.

Casiño said the second operator was also present during the Makati hotel meeting. He recalled seeing the man speaking with a party-list representative then seeking accreditation from the Commission on Elections.

“The massive vote-padding currently happening in Mindanao confirms the statement of the political operator,” the lawmaker said.

Casiño said the two men he met in Makati were among many “syndicates” manipulating the results of the party-list elections for money. He said these groups included known warlords and powerful political clans in Mindanao.

Syndicates

Before the elections, he said, syndicates were offering to fix the results with a rate of P5 for every voter that a party-list group wanted added to its votes. He said the rate went as high as P25 per voter after the elections.

“Political operators who are neat with their ‘work’ change the results, not only in the CoV and SOV, but also in the election returns,” Casiño said.

He described as “crude” and “blatant” the alleged “vote-padding” in Zamboanga del Sur and Taw-Tawi, noting that political operators bothered to change only the figures in the CoV and SoV.

Casiño said the task force would question the results from the two provinces once these reach the National Board of Canvassers at the Philippine International Convention Center.

TU scores big zero in Navotas

By Nancy C. Carvajal
Inquirer
Last updated 01:22am (Mla time) 05/26/2007
MANILA, Philippines—Once again the coastal town of Navotas has proven that it’s an opposition bailiwick.

Based on the official count of the Commission on Elections, the Genuine Opposition dominated the Senate race in the locality with 10-2-0. Two slots went to independent candidates and none for Team Unity.

All GO candidates, except for former Sen. John Osmeña, made it to the winning circle, while two slots were claimed by former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan and reelectionist Sen. Francisco “Kiko’’ Pangilinan.

In the cities of Malabon and Valenzuela, where local positions were dominated by administration bets, TU did not fare well with 8-2-2 in favor of the opposition.

The official tally also showed Rep. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, topping the senatorial race in the three localities.

No cheating in Navotas

Reelected Mayor of Navotas, Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, said: “Navotas delivered. The opposition candidates won without resorting to cheating.”

Romeo Soriano, district coordinator of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in Navotas, affirmed this.

“Except for missing names, the election here was clean,’’ Soriano said.

Tiangco explained that unlike other areas where a sweep had been reported, “it was hard work, a vigorous campaign and the credibility of local candidates running under the opposition that [brought us] victory.’’

Tiangco ran against and defeated Malabon-Navotas Rep. Ricky Sandoval.

Proxy fight?

Touted as a proxy fight between deposed President Joseph Estrada and President Macapagal-Arroyo, Tiangco is the spokesperson of Estrada’s political party, Pwersa ng Masa, in the National Capital Region, while Sandoval is a strong supporter of Ms Arroyo.

Sandoval maintained it was not a proxy fight.

Tiangco said the 10-2-0 outcome in Navotas affirmed the state of politics in his town.

“The people of Navotas had always been an opposition bailiwick. We gave the late presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. his biggest margin in Metro Manila over Ms Arroyo in the 2004 elections,’’ he said.

Tiangco’s reelection bid was endorsed by Estrada and Poe’s wife, Susan Roces.

Top 12 in Navotas

The Navotas statement of votes showed that Escudero got 68,475 votes followed by Loren Legarda, 68,062; Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, 61,419; Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, 54,915; Manuel Villar, 51,463; Alan Peter Cayetano, 51,242; Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, 45,083; Antonio Trillanes IV, 43,192; Pangilinan, 39,378; Honasan, 37,174; Sonia Roco, 36,485; Nikki Coseteng 32,650.

Osmeña is in the 13th slot with 31,398 followed by Eduardo Angara, 27,004; Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, 24,714; Joker Arroyo, 24,673.

Navotas is composed of 14 barangays with a total of 613 precincts and an estimated 120,000 registered voters.

Valenzuela, Malabon

Team Unity did not also fare well in the northern part of Metro Manila where most residents live below poverty line.

In Valenzuela City, the GO dominated the senatorial contest, despite the strong presence of administration local candidates from Kampi and Lakas-CMD.

Reelectionists Arroyo and Angara were the only ones who made it to the 9th and 12th slot respectively.

Malabon City, supposedly the bailiwick of TU candidate former Sen. Tessie Oreta, also failed to push the administration candidates. Oreta ranked 12th, just a few hundred votes more than GO candidate Sonia Roco.

Oreta’s brother-in-law, incumbent Canuto Oreta, ran unopposed for mayor.

The other TU bet in the 11th slot was reelectionist Angara.