Election 2007

Consultation

Peter — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:13:36 +0000

It was my first time to join Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a barangay caucus to feel the pulse of the people on the impending candidacy of her daugther as vice mayor of the city.

There simply was an overwhelming show of support from our barangay officials.

Use of internet is legal

Peter — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:44:54 +0000

The Commission on Elections said the use of “modern technology” such as text messaging and the internet in the election campaign is legal but it has yet to come out with guidlelines.

With this development I hope more politicians will make good use of this new tool to reach out to their constituents, and vice versa.

We’re back

Peter — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 23:35:57 +0000

So sorry it’s been ages since our last post.

I kinda stopped blogging because of the uncertainty of the 2007 elections. The administration’s relentless campaign for charter change (chacha) has practically put on hold the polls.

But now, things have changed dramatically with very little material time left for chacha.

The onset of the new year would signal the start of the election period with party nominations, filing of candidacies, etc. So, with the chacha express derailed at the Supreme Court, in Congress and in the parliament-of-the-streets, the May 14, polls are likely to push through.

During our Christmas party with Mayor Rody Duterte last Friday, he expressed hope that we can all run under one ticket although we belong to different political parties. He said he is satisfied with the incumbent members of the Council and he looks forward to working with us till in his last term.

Well, I also hope so.

In 2004, I was one of only four survivors of Duterte’s Hugpong-Lakas Alliance. I and my LAMI partner, Councilor Bonifacio Militar, were the only opposition bets to win in the First District. We ran under FPJ’s banner.

Separation of church and state

Peter — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:32:47 +0000

The Catholic bishops will not endorse candidates in the next election. However, it will encourage laypersons to support and vote for candidates who meet their criteria.

Students call for poll automation

Peter — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:09:10 +0000

Student leaders from various student councils joined calls for the automation of polls next year to prevent fraud.

“Election cheating will again rear its ugly head in 2007 unless we push for the automation of the polls,” they said in this report.

Countdown

Peter — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:05:11 +0000

I have just added a countdown calendar in my google homepage. This will remind me on the number of days till election on May 14, 2007.

This morning the counter showed 241 days more.

Criteria for poll bets

Peter — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 23:29:25 +0000

The Roman Catholic church has commenced its voter education campaign for the 2007 elections to affirm its stand that there should be elections next year.

It has also listeddown the criteria for poll bets’ qualification and the basis for the faithfuls to choose whom to vote.

Public works ban

Peter — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 23:20:11 +0000

Elected public officials have only six months left to finish their pet infra projects. Part of the calendar of the COMELEC is the imposition of public works ban during the election period.

Important Dates

Peter — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:22:41 +0000

The COMELEC has announced the Calendar for the 2007 election declaring January 13 – June 13 as the official election period.

Deadline for voter registration – December 31, 2006

Deadline for filing certificate of candidacy for local officials – March 29, 2007

Campaign period for local officials – March 30 – May 12, 2007

Election – May 14, 2007

NP prepares for 2007 polls

Peter — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:20:32 +0000

The Nacionalista Party (NP) is open to a possible coalition with the opposition Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada.

According to Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., NP president, the coalition might be possible pending final negotiations on the line-up of senatorial and local candidates for next year’s elections.

The NP, one of the country’s oldest political parties, started its preparations for the midterm elections next year amid aggressive efforts by the Arroyo administration to amend the 1987 Constitution that could possibly abolish the Senate and scrap the elections altogether.

The complete story is at PhilStar.

And the winners are …

Peter — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:06:40 +0000

In elections were held today, Pulse Asia polled this result from 1,200 respondents:

1. Former Senator Loren Legarda (48.6 percent)

2. Sen. Francis Pangilinan (39 percent)

3. Sen. Panfilo Lacson (34.9 percent)

4. Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. (34.2 percent)

5. Sen. Ralph Recto (33.1 percent)

6. Former Sen. Vicente Sotto III (31 percent)

7. Lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (29.9 percent)

8. Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (29.5 percent)

9. Former Sen. Greogorio Honasan (27.7 percent)

10. San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (23.8 percent)

11. Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos (23.1 percent)

12. Former Sen. John Henry Osmeña (22.7 percent)

Senate slate

Peter — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 23:24:15 +0000

Very likely a trial balloon or a mere working list. But here is a list of potential senatoriables as reported by the Manila Standard Today:

Administration:

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, presidential chief-of-staff Michael Defensor, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay, Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Surigao Rep. Ace Barbers, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Senator Ralph Recto and Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Opposition:

Senators Loi Estrada, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, and Manuel Villar, Reps. Francis Escudero, Benigno Aquino III and Alan Peter Cayetano, former Senators Vicente Sotto III, Loren Legarda and Teresita Aquino Oreta, Sonia Roco, and San Juan Mayor Jayvee Ejercito.

More jails please

Peter — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:42:01 +0000

If the government is dead serious in this new campaign to cleanse the list of voters in the Autonomous Region, and possibly all over the country, then we need to build more jails.

An initial 8,000 double registrants in the ARMM have so far been purged from the voters list. COMELEC officials believed there are more. About 2,000 are now under investigation.

Those found guilty of double registration can be imprisoned for up to six months.

COMELEC extends overseas list up

Peter — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:22:32 +0000

The Commission on Elections has extended the voter registration for overseas Filipinos, including those with dual citizen status.

The original deadline was set for the end of this month. Now, it has been stretched to September 30.

As the 2007 election fever heats later this year, expect the poll body to issue more extention orders. Not just for voter list up but for other activities as well like the filing of certificates of candidacy. I remember in 2003-04, the COMELEC extended the deadline at least three times.

They always find “reasonable” grounds to do so.

Cyber town hall meetings

Peter — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:56:05 +0000

Check out the citizenspeak at our sidebar.

Our blog receive interesting feedbacks. For instance, recent entries include an offer for volunteer work in our nutrition program, and laments about the recent scandal on the nursing licensure exam.

I also receive similar engaging comments in my other blogs.

In my email, I also get many reports, suggestions and complaints on a variety of issues. A recent one came from an American who expressed concern about the possible landslides at the foothills of Matina Shrine facing Ma-a.

The virtual community we are building through these exchanges is truly making cyber town hall metings possible.