Citizen journalism right at your fingertips

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos are again called upon to be vigilant and to serve as citizen journalists for the coming 2013 polls by reporting election-related anomalies using the Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Tayo Na (BMPM) reporting mechanism on ABS-CBN News’ apps.

It’s citizen journalism right at users’ fingertips through the abs-cbnNEWS.com and Comelec Halalan 2013 mobile applications, which can be downloaded to iPhones, iPads and Android smartphones and tablets.

It is the latest digital innovation of ABS-CBN’s citizen journalism movement that started in 2005 and enabled people to patrol their votes and report wrongdoing in their localities. It was via phone calls and text message in the beginning and later through e-mails, Facebook and Twitter.

As the country prepares for the forthcoming midterm elections, the BMPM feature on ABS-CBN News’ mobile apps make it easy and convenient for digital citizens to serve as watchdogs of society and to look out for possible election-related violations such as posting of campaign materials on unauthorized areas, vote buying and carrying or use of firearms by private individuals while the gun ban is in effect.

In recent elections, BMPM has helped tell some of the biggest news stories such as the Maguindanao massacre on November 2009, when the first photo from the crime scene was sent to BMPM only minutes after the gruesome crime occurred. 

In 2007, it was through BMPM that the nation learned about the burning of a poll precinct in Batangas, which claimed the lives of two teachers.

The trailblazing BMPM, which had stood for Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo in previous elections, has brought home various awards from prestigious international and local award-giving bodies as the International Gold Quill Awards, Asia Pacific PR Awards, the Philippine Quill Awards, the Anvil Awards and the Tambuli Awards.

Download the abs-cbnNEWS.com and the Comelec Halalan 2013 apps on your smartphones and other mobile devices to report to BMPM.

Reports may also be made by calling 412-3781, by posting on Twitter via @bayanmo, or on  Facebook via www.facebook.com/bayanmoipatrolmo.akoangsimula and by e-mailing  [email protected].