Na-Disquibidi Inodoro
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The Comelec bears the constitutional duty to safeguard the integrity of our electoral process. Anything less would be a betrayal of the marginalized sectors the party-list system was designed to empower.
“There is no harmonised version of the election code, nor a mechanism to document which provisions are no longer in force. This affects the legal certainty of the texts, as is the case with the applicable provisions on international observation. Campaign finance is insufficiently regulated,” the mission stated.
“Crucial to the resolution of this case is the fundamental social justice principle that those who have less in life should have more in law. The party-list system is one such tool intended to benefit those who have less in life. It gives the great masses of our people genuine hope and genuine power. It is a message to the destitute and the prejudiced, and even to those in the underground, that change is possible. It is an invitation for them to come out of their limbo and seize the opportunity."
Makabayan Bicol expressed alarm over the growing incidents of red-tagging, and outright threats against progressive candidates, their campaigners and supporters even with the issuance by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of Resolution No. 1116 prohibiting acts associated with red-tagging.
Red-tagging, the practice of labeling individuals and organizations as communists or terrorists without due process, creates a foreboding environment, which may compromise the safety of candidates as well as their supporters and voters.
“Red-tagging combined with homophobic rants also foments irrational fear, hatred and bigotry and can be a prelude to hate crimes and fascist attacks against the targets."
Voting is one of the democratic rights you have as a Filipino. But for first-time voters, the process can be overwhelming. What time should you go? What if your name isn’t on the list? How can you make sure your vote counts? This guide will answer all these questions and help you step into the polling station with confidence, knowing your vote matters.
A total of 67 donors contributed P624.7 million to help Ferdinand Marcos Jr. win the presidency, based on his own declarations to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas footed 40% of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign bill through party treasurer Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., grandson of his father’s close business associate. The remaining cost was covered by today’s opulent names in real estate, retail, construction, and shipping industries.
“We thus ask the High Court to reverse and set aside the questionable Comelec ruling and to cancel and declare void from the start the certificate of candidacy of Marcos Jr. and in the process, declare him to have never been a candidate in the 2022 national elections."
As technical anomalies surfaced during the national elections, Filipino voters bore the brunt of the Commission on Election’s inefficiencies.
First-time voters were dismayed to find lack of coordination, long queues, malfunctioning vote-counting machines (VCMs), and other irregularities.
A day after the May 9 elections, supporters of Leni Robredo, members of election watchdogs and progressive groups hold a symbolic protest in front of the Commission on Elections office in Manila against what they called as the 'dirtiest' election in recent years.
Makabayan bloc points to the anti-communist task force as the culprit behind the spread of fake information.
“To deny it and say that our petitions ‘lack of merit’ is to endorse the historical distortions perpetrated by the Marcoses, whitewash their crimes against the people, and abet their delusions of returning to power."
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that Marcos Jr.’s “repeated and persistent failure to file his income tax returns for 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 constitute an offense involving moral turpitude,” citing section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code.
“Simply put, Marcos Jr. is a convicted criminal and a shameless liar who should not be allowed to run for public office, especially the highest and most powerful position in the land."
The Comelec decision is intended at preventing delays in other preparatory activities leading to the elections, including the finalization of the voters list. Instead of extending the registration beyond September 30, Comelec has instead extended registration hours and will be open on Saturdays and holidays.
But would this be enough?
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