Climate of fear, fraud observed in RP poll hot spots — int'l watchdog



(Updated 1:22 p.m.) 

In the morning of election day, a bomb exploded at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, prompting the transferring of 17 precincts stationed at the polling center. 

 In Abra province in northern Philippines, private militiamen of local candidates in Bangued, Dolores and Langangilang towns proliferated near precincts. In portions of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), politicians provided transportation for voters, bags of rice, and envelopes with money. These were only a few observations of international watchdog Asian Network for Free Elections or ANFREL, which deployed at least 39 foreign watchers to 500 clustered precincts nationwide, 207 of which are in the ARMM. The group noted threats and intimidation to voters in election hot spots, even as it acknowledged the reduction of poll-related violence in the first nationwide automated polls. "The very sensitivity of [voters] talking to our observers underlines the climate of fear that exists in the hot spot areas. Nearly everyone interviewed in Marawi City said they were scared and feared for their lives," ANFREL said in its observation report released to the media on Thursday. ANFREL member and Indian observer Bidhayak Das also noted that in ARMM provinces like Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, ANFREL watchers had to take extra precaution because of clan wars or rido, which could result in violence. ANFREL likewise disclosed that in Mindanao, supporters of candidates surrounded and accompanied voters while they cast their ballots and forced them to vote quickly — a clear violation of the voter's right to the secrecy of his vote. Children were used to distribute leaflets on election day even if the ban on campaigning was in place. Nonetheless, observers from other areas that are not hotspots concluded the elections were “generally peaceful." The group’s executive director, Somsri Hananuntasuk, showed samples of campaign paraphernalia from a councilor bet in Maguindanao with a P20 bill stapled with it. "In all precincts we observed the distribution of the candidate picture leaflets and in some provinces in ARMM, cash was given with the leaflet. Observers also witnesses cases of use of transportation organized by political parties or candidates to take voters to precincts," the group’s report said. Vote-buying is prohibited in cash and kind, but this general policy was obviously set aside. Worse, the group also showed photos of ARMM voters holding chunks of ballots, where they are to cast their votes. Each voter is only entitled to one ballot. Glitches mar conduct of polls In its observations, ANFREL highly emphasized the loopholes in the conduct of the May 10 polls, such as the disenfranchisement of voters due to missing names on voters’ list and the long queues that discouraged people from voting. In some areas, those who are not on voters’ lists were allowed to vote. The crowded precincts prompted the Commission on Elections to extend the voting period until 7 p.m. However, the group noted that in some rural areas, voters still waited as late as 10:30 p.m. "The understaffing of the polling station also gave an excuse for party poll watchers to assist with the electoral administration, which clearly violated the principle of neutrality," it said. The sanctity of the ballot was not protected, the group said, due to the close proximity of one voter to another in small precincts. Ballot secrecy folders were too small to cover ballots. Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines encountered glitches that resulted in minor delays to major ones that suspended polling hours. For instance, leading presidential contender Sen. Benigno Aquino had to line up for hours in his precinct in Tarlac City due to a problematic PCOS machine. "In Negros Occidental, ANFREL observed in one polling center that there were only two modems for 16 PCOS machines. In Masbate, only seven of about 550 clustered precincts could transmit ballot tallies by 11 p.m. [on May 10]," the group also said. Despite these reported troubles, ANFREL still said more PCOS machines in the country’s 76,000 precincts worked than malfunctioned. Based on its observations in 496 precincts nationwide, only 1.3 percent of ballots were rejected. ’Breakthrough’ Amid these incidents of violence, fraud, and other irregularities, ANFREL still said the conduct of the polls was "relatively acceptable." It also lauded Filipinos for the 75 percent turn out of voters in the elections and the increase in number of civic groups and local watchdogs to deter election fraud and violence. "The authorities made commendable efforts to administer this election in a noble and professional manner and generally displayed the collective political will to conduct democratic elections," it said. Hananuntasuk said ANFREL would submit its observations and recommendations to the Comelec in the coming days. "These issues need to be addressed. A lot need to be done and there is a big room for improvement," added Bangladeshi observr Hassan Adriff. — RSJ, GMANews.TV