30 international observers deployed for midterm polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Compact for Peaceful Democratic Elections (COMPACT) started deploying yesterday 30 international observers to monitor the conduct of Monday’s elections in six areas in the country.

The observers come from Sweden, Denmark, United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Spain, Burma, the Netherlands, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

They will be grouped according to their expertise in election monitoring, according to COMPACT national coordinator Arnold Tarrobago.

The 2013 “International Team Bantay” is composed of parliamentarians, academics, youth and student leaders, as well as leaders from foreign political parties, media organizations and non-government organizations.

The group had also fielded observer missions during the 2004, 2007, and 2010 elections in the Philippines.

This year’s observer teams will be deployed to Cagayan, Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Cebu, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Tarrobago said the foreign observers will particularly monitor the “iconic electoral battles” between Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda and former governor Ed Panlilio; Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo against former Pampanga provincial administrator Vivian Dabu; former interior secretary Jesse Robredo’s widow Leni against Nelly Villafuerte in Camarines Sur; and ARMM officer-in-charge Mujiv Hataman against Pax Mangudadatu.

“Our 2013 international election observers have shown interest in monitoring iconic electoral contests between those that proclaim to be on the side of reforms and those that are associated with traditional and patronage politics,” he said.

According to Tarrobago, the observers are also interested in the three-way fight between Fr. Leo Casas and the powerful Kho and Lanete clans for governor of Masbate.