Duterte admin ready for 2019 midterm elections, vows to go after poll cheats

Malacañang on Friday said the government is ready for the 2019 midterm elections and vowed to go after those who have “sinister plans and evil machinations” of thwarting the will of the electorate.

Around 61 million Filipinos are expected to vote on May 13, a non-working holiday, with more than 18,000 posts up for grabs from senator to municipal councilor. The voting will be held inside thousands of polling precincts nationwide.

“We enjoin all Filipinos who are eligible to vote to participate in this healthy democratic exercise as we call on all candidates across the political spectrum to ask their supporters to observe an honest, orderly, peaceful and credible elections reflective of the people’s genuine will,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

He urged the Commission on Elections to ensure the integrity of the ballots.

“Any form of cheating committed by the electoral body's personnel or contractor (Smartmatic) will not to be tolerated by this administration,” he said.

The Palace official said “concerns and apprehensions have been raised by various quarters” in relation to the conduct of the coming elections. He did not elaborate.

“This is the only time that the rich and poor alike as well as the powerful and the weak will have equal value in the weighing scale as regards their vote,” Panelo said.

“Any hindrance or manipulation of the right to vote is a lethal attack against the very heart of our country's democracy.”

The Palace spokesman said President Rodrigo Duterte has put in place measures designed to determine if cheating has been committed in the polls, including filing of charges against those responsible.

“We are thus issuing a stern warning to those who have sinister plans and evil machinations of thwarting the will of the electorate to abandon them,” Panelo said.

“Any violator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one will be spared regardless of their political affiliation or station in life.”

Panelo then wished the candidates “all the best.”

Three days before Election Day, Panelo said 36,000 schools are now ready to be used as polling precincts to be manned by 230,000 teachers sitting as members of the electoral boards and technical support.

Some 150,000 police personnel will be deployed in various parts of the country to ensure public safety and security on election day.

The Philippine National Police has also launched the National Election Monitoring Action Center to monitor situations in all polling centers from its headquarters in Camp Crame, including the arrival of vote counting machines, counting of ballots and delivery of ballot boxes.

Panelo said the Department of Energy has assured that there will be stable power on the day of the elections, “the same being a paramount concern as electricity is required in the automated voting system.” — RSJ, GMA News