Comelec Update: 'Poll machines may be delivered ahead of schedule'

(UPDATE) 'Poll machines may be delivered ahead of schedule'

MANILA, Philippines - A Commission

on Elections (Comelec) official on

Wednesday predicted that the 82,000

counting machines may be delivered

way ahead of schedule as he doused

fears that the counting machines will

not be delivered on time, delaying the

May 2010 automated elections.

Lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec's

legal division chief, said the

Smartmatic-TIM's promise to deliver a

total of 42,000 units of Precinct Count

Optical Scan (PCOS) by December 31

may not materialize because its

subcontractor in Shanghai, China has

managed to make only one assembly

line operational.

Rafanan said the Shanghai-based

manufacturing firm started assembling

the counting machines only on

December 4.

He said one assembly line can produce

500 units a day, which makes it

impossible for the Shanghai

manufacturing firm to complete the

42,000 requirement by the end of the

month.

He, however, predicted that the total

requirement of 82,000 units may be

completed and delivered to the

Philippines even before February 28

schedule, with the Smartmatic-TIM's

assurance that the manufacturing firm in

Shanghai will be able to make 4 more

assembly lines fully operational by

January.

"If the five assembly lines will be fully

operational by January, in just one

month or less, with 9,000 to be

delivered today (Wednesday), all of the

82,000 machines will be [manufactured]

this January. It may be delivered ahead

of schedule," Rafanan told radio

dzMM.

An ABS-CBN News report, however,

said that only 4,000 units of PCOS

were delivered at the Comelec office in

Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday

morning.

The machines have been transported to

the Smartmatic warehouse in Cabuyao,

Laguna, where the machines will be

subjected to a series of tests.

The Comelec added that some 3,200

machines have also been brought to the

Bureau of Customs office in Manila

and was set for release next week.

Earlier reports said 9,800 would be

delivered this month, and another

20,200 units after the holiday rush.

Teachers, who will be assisting voters

in using the automated poll machines,

have expressed fears that there might

not be enough time for the Comelec to

educate them on how to use the

machines because of the delayed

delivery.

Rafanan said teachers need not worry

because they will be spending only

10% of their time using the machine

during the elections. He said the

Comelec will also assign trained

technicians to each voting precinct to

assist teachers on election day.

Aside from the teachers' education,

schedules for field testings and mock

elections that were supposed to have

started in November have been delayed

because of the delivery problem of the

voting machines.

Poll officials have also yet to be trained

by Smartmatic-TIM people on how to

use the voting machines.
---- sounds promising! -anneski-

(UPDATE) 'Poll machines may be delivered ahead of schedule'

SEXBOMB GIRLS in 'BILOG NA HUGIS ITLOG' Music Video for the 2010 AUTOMATED ELECTION by GMA7

I would say that this a very creative way of explaining the said automated 2010 elections. Thanks to GMA 7 for the very educating mtv.

Watch it in youTube : GMA 7's Election Campaign

Candidate Profile: Joseph Ejercito Estrada

Joseph Ejercito Estrada



Born: April 19, 1937
Position in History: Philippines: 13th President, Fifth Republic: 3rd President
Term: June 30, 1998 - January 20, 2001
Duration of Term: 935 days

Joseph Estrada was born in Tondo, Manila on April 19, 1937. His parents moved to San Juan where he grew up. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University. He decided to follow his father's footsteps and took up engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology. During his third year at Mapua, Estrada left his studies to try the movies. His displeased parents forbid him to use their family name so he adopted the name Estrada, which is Spanish for street. He was also known more commonly by his nickname, Erap which is the reverse spelling of pare or friend.
Estrada was very successful in his career as a movie star. He was the leading role in 107 hundred movies and produced more than 70 of his own, for which he later won various awards for. Despite the lack of an established political party, Estrada ran for mayor of San Juan in the 1969 local elections. As mayor, he established new schools, health centres, the installation of artesian wells and other projects generally beneficial to the municipality. In 1972, Estrada was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public Administration, Most Outstanding Mayor and Foremost Nationalist and Most Outstanding Metro Manila Mayor. He was San Juan mayor for 16 years. Estrada was removed from office soon after the 1986 EDSA Revolution as part of the government reorganisation.
In 1987, Estrada became a senator. He sponsored three bills during his term and opposed the renewal of the US Military Base Agreement, which Estrada explained was because he wanted the Philippines to reclaim full sovereignty. He was named Outstanding Senator by the Philippine Free Press on January 14, 1989. Estrada ran for position of vice-president in the 1992 elections and won. Despite being in a different political party from President Ramos, Estrada was appointed as the head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, a newly created government organisation with the prime objective of dissolving organised crime.
Joseph Ejercito Estrada was elected to the position of president in the 1998 elections. It is believed his popularity as an actor contributed to his victory in the presidential elections. Early October 2000, provincial governor Luis "Chavit" Singson revealed Estrada's involvement in various illegal activities and pocketing vast sums of money from illegal gambling protection money as well as skimming from tobacco taxes. After voting on the matter, the Senate decided to begin impeachment proceedings and Estrada was charged with bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of the public trust and violation of the constitution. As a result of the proceedings, the Philippine economy began to suffer and the Philippine peso suffered devaluation.
Throughout the impeachment trial, it was alleged Estrada had the money held in several bank accounts under the alias Jose Velarde. The impeachment trial collapsed on January 15, 2001, after the trial's Senate judges barred the inspection of Estrada's bank accounts. The prosecution resigned causing a partial collapse of the government. The EDSA II Revolution was the outcome and five days of protesting on the streets followed while protestors demanded Estrada resign. On January 19, 2001, Estrada announced he was stepping aside as president.
----- I guess we all know the story of Erap, now he is running again as a President. ---anne

ERAP

2010 Philippine Elections List of Senatorial Candidates

Among the hundreds who applied for a senatorial seat, here's the list of the 58 senatorial candidates who made it:



1. Acosta, Jr. Nereus O. (LP)


2. Albani, Shariff Ibrahim H. (KBL)


3. Alonto, Zafrullah M. (Bangon Pilipinas)


4. Baraquel, Ana. Theresa H. (LP)


5. Bautista, J.V. Larion (PMP)


6. Bautista, Martin D. (LP)


7. Bello, Silvestre III H. (Lakas)


8. Biazon, Rozanno Rufino B. (LP)


9. Revilla, Ramon “Bong" B. (Lakas)


10. Caunan, Henry B. (PDP-Laban)


11. Cayetano, Pilar Juliana US. (NP)


12. David, Rizalito Y. (Ang Kapatiran)


13. De Venecia, Jose III P. (PMP)


14. Defensor-Santiago, Miriam P.(People’s Reform Party)


15. Drilon, Franklin M. (LP)


16. Enrile, Juan Ponce (PMP)


17. Estrada, Jinggoy E. (PMP)


18. Guico, Ramon, Jr. N. (Lakas)


19. Guingona, Teofisto III D. (LP)


20. Imbong, Jo Aurea M. (Ang Kapatiran)


21. Inocencio, Ma. Katherine Luningning R. (Bangon Pilipinas)


22. Lacson, Alexander L. (LP)


23. Lambino, Raul L. (Lakas)


24. Langit, Rey M. (Lakas)


25. Lao, Yasmin B. (LP)


26. Lapid, Manuel M. (Lakas)


27. Lood, Alma A. (KBL)


28. Lozada, Jose Apolinario Jr. L (PMP)


29. Maambong, Regalado E. (KBL)


30. Marcos, Ferdinand Jr. R. (NP)


31. Maza, Liza L. (Independent)


32. Millora, Ma. Judea G. (KBL)


33. Mitra, Ramon B. (NP)


34. Ocampo, Ramoncito P. (Bangong Pilipinas)


35. Ocampo, Saturnino C. (Bayan Muna)


36. Ople, Susan V. (NP)


37. Osmeña, Sergio III D. (Independent)


38. Palparan, Jovito Jr. S. (Independent)


39. Papin, Imelda A. (KBL)


40. Paredes, Zosimo Jesus II M. (Ang Kapatiran)


41. Pimentel, Gwendolyn D. (PDP-Laban)


42. Plaza, Rodolfo Rodrigo G. (NPC)


43. Princesa, Reynaldo R. (Bangon Pilipinas)


44. Querubin, Ariel O. (NP)


45. Recto, Ralph G. (LP)


46. Remulla, Gilbert Cesar C. (NP)


47. 4Riñoza-Plazo, Maria Gracia DV. (Ang Kapatiran)


48. Roco, Sonia M. (LP)


49. Sison, Adrian O. (Ang Kapatiran)


50. Sotto, Vicente III C. (NPC)


51. Tamano, Adel A. (NP)


52. Tamayo, Reginald B. (Ang Kapatiran)


53. Tarrazona, Hector M. (Ang Kapatiran)


54. Tatad, Francisco S. (Grand Alliance for Democracy)


55. Tinsay, Alexander B. (Bangon Pilipinas))


56. Valdehuesa, Manuel Jr. E. (Ang Kapatiran)


57. Villanueva, Hector L. (KBL)


58. Virgines, Israel N. (Bangon Pilipinas)


----------- I can count with my fingers the names that I know, I hope with the limited time before the elections, we'll know all our candidates. ^^

2010 Philippine Elections List of Vice Presidential Candidates

There are also 8 Vice Presidential Candidates.

List of approved Vice Presidential Candidates:


1. Binay, Jejomar C. (PDP-Laban)


2. Chipeco, Dominador “Jun" Jr. F. (Ang Kapatiran)


3. Fernando, Bayani F. (Bagumbayan)


4. Legarda, Loren B. (National People’s Coalition)


5. Manzano, Edu B. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)


6. Roxas, Manuel “Mar" II A. (Liberal Party)


7. Sonza, Jose “Jay" Y. (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan)


8. Yasay, Perfecto Jr. R. (Bangon Pilipinas)


-----very interesting mix of candidates.

2010 Philippine Elections List of Presidential Candidates

Finally the Commission on Elections (Comelec) released the names of the qualified candidates for the National Elections on May 2010.
For Presidency, out of the 99 aspiring candidates only 8 made it.
Here's the list:

1. Aquino, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" III (Liberal Party)

2. Delos Reyes, John Carlos “JC" (Ang Kapatiran)

3. Ejercito Estrada, Joseph M. (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino – UNO)

4. Gordon, Richard J. (Bagumbayan)

5. Madrigal, Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby" AS. (Independent)

6. Teodoro, Gilberto Jr. C. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)

7. Villanueva, Eddie C. (Bangon Pilipinas)

8. Villar, Manuel Jr. B. (Nacionalista Party)

Candidate Profile: JC de los Reyes

JC de los Reyes



Born February 14, 1970, married to Dunia Valenzuela with three children, Gabriel 10, Santiago 7 and Barbara 5.

He studied in Ateneo de Manila for his elementary education, and graduated in De la Salle for high school. He finished his B.A. in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, reputed to be one of the most orthodox Catholic Universities in America. Late 1993 he taught Philosophy in the then Center for Research and Communication, now the University of Asia and the Pacific and was under the tutelage of Fr. Joseph de Torre, a Spanish priest of the Holy Cross who wrote extensively on the social teachings of the Church. In 1995, he ran and was elected City Councilor of Olongapo.

During his term, he focused on the poor, the youth and cooperatives. In 1999 he finished his post-graduate studies in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and proceeded to study law in Saint Louis University, Baguio City, finishing his degree in 2005.

The organizations he helped propagate as an active member since 1995 was the National Renewal Movement and the Ang Kapatiran National Political Party or the Alliance for the Common Good, a registered political party that seeks to promote the politics of genuine social concern. Presently, he is national animator of Solidarity Philippines, a movement to pro-actively advance the Social Justice Agenda of the Church and Executive-director of Breaking the Yoke of Poverty Foundation whose project is Jubillee homes for the Poor, a housing project for 60 families.

In the 2007 elections, among 27 local and national candidates, he was the lone winner of Ang Kapatiran Party, placing second among ten slots for the Olongapo City Council. This was achieved despite a decade absent from local politics.

His free legal assistance program under an informal project named JUSTICE CRUSADE has been widely successful among his constituents. He is presently prioritizing the institutionalization of the Barangay Human Rights Action Centers, the office mandated by law for the protection and prevention of human rights violations in the barangay.

Councilor JC has spoken out and campaigned against illegal drugs, rampant violations of worker’s rights at Hanjin, Subic Bay and has campaigned against illegal fish cages in the area. He has also led protests against the proposed coal power plant and has been outspoken in criticizing government’s plan to open more casinos in Subic.

The boldest statement he has made for good governance is the filing of numerous cases before the Ombudsman against high ranking government officials where he himself is complainant. This is in line with his political policy of alleviating the people’s suffering by addressing the problem of expensive and increasing costs of basic needs like water, electricity, medicines, health care, etc., and insuring that these basic services are kept free and far from graft and corruption.

His passion and vision is to unceasingly work to fight and defeat massive, enslaving poverty, a mission to be accomplished not only in Olongapo but in the whole country.
------------ I think he has a good MVP (Mission, Vission, Passion. ----anneski

JC de los Reyes

Candidate Profile: Benigno Noynoy Aquino III

Noynoy Aquino III

It is in his bloodline. It is his heritage. For him, democracy restored must be enshrined without fear but with greatest fervor.

It is second nature to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III to be both a fiscalizer, who relentlessly espouse public accountability, and a staunch advocate of liberal democracy.

His key legislative initiatives are anchored on the protection of human rights and good governance through increased transparency and public accountability. These are founded on the democratic ideals championed by his parents, former Senator and martyr Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino.

A true working democracy, he says, makes possible not only political freedoms but a better life for all Filipinos. It must be able to provide jobs, education, social services and equitable economic prosperity for everyone, not just the rich, privileged few.

The defense of democracy nearly cost Senator Aquino his life. He was almost killed during the military coup against President Aquino in 1990 when he met retreating rogue soldiers at the front gates of Malacañang. Three of his bodyguards died while he suffered five bullet wounds. A bullet is still embedded in his neck.


Senator Aquino served as Congressman of the 2nd District of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, he was stripped of his prestigious post as Deputy House Speaker for Luzon after he joined leaders of the Liberal Party (LP) in calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal.

In May 2007, he ran for Senator and won, placing 6th in the national elections.

As Senator in the 14th Congress, he chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government.

In the LP, Senator Aquino held various positions such as Secretary General and Vice Chairman. He is now the party’s official standard bearer for the 2010 Presidential election with Mar Roxas as his running mate.

Noynoy is a graduate of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. He fancies Chinese food and is a shooting and billiards enthusiast. -------------------Nice to know more about Noynoy. ---anne

Noynoy Aquino III

The 2010 Presidentiables

Wow! Would you know that there are almost 50 presidentiables for the upcoming 2010 elections? Well I don't know all of them but here is a list of those I'm sure would be running. I also watched some of them in Abs-cbn's Harapan.

1. former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)
2. Gilbert Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD
3. Sen. Manual Villar of the Nationalista Party (NP)
4. Sen. Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party (LP)
5. Ely Pamatong
6. Dick Gordon
7. Councilor Jc De los Reyes
8. Eddie Villanueva
9. Nicanor Perlas

I guess with a lot of choices we just have to be wise!
Our country needs a change!

---anne