EU to send observers to RP poll hotspots

The European Union (EU) will be sending election observers to the Philippines for the May 14 elections.

An EU diplomat who requested anonymity said the EU is in the process of determining the provinces where the observers, mostly from the embassies, will be sent to note the conduct of elections – though most will be deployed to identified election hotspots.

The EU, through European Commission Director General for External Relations Eneko Landaburu, conveyed to the Philippines last February that the EU wants to see "fair, transparent, orderly and peaceful elections" in the Philippines.

Other foreign governments expected to field election observers include the United States and Canada.

The government earlier said Canada’s travel advisory warning its nationals against large political gatherings for the May 14 elections that have "potential for violence" has no basis.

In a briefing given by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the diplomatic corps, the government assured that the May elections will be peaceful.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos told the diplomatic corps that there have been no violent incidents in political rallies and campaigns, even before Canada issued its travel advisory.

He said that even the children of opposition senators who are running in the May elections are the "best indication of the people’s trust and faith in the democratic system."

Meanwhile, the Comelec added that it is targeting to complete the printing of ballots and election returns by April 22.

Comelec commissioner Resurreccion Borra said the National Printing Office has already printed 79 percent of ballots and 20 percent of election returns.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the government sees that the coming elections will be peaceful.

Gonzales cited the communists’ attempt to offer the New People’s Army (NPA) to the opposition to inject violence.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said during the briefing that the communist guerrillas will be the most potent threat to this year’s elections.

The PNP said in its briefing paper that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the National Democratic Front (NDF) and its armed wing, the NPA, are already pooling resources "to threaten the integrity of the elections."

"All the political machineries of this communist terrorist group – like the party committees, guerrilla fronts, agitation/propaganda groups, legal fronts and allied organizations, will commit themselves to the upcoming elections to pursue and promote the interest of the communist revolution," the PNP said. – With Sheila Crisostomo