More Comelec failures

Once again, the Comelec failed in its Constitutional duty to hold clean, orderly and free elections. No less than Chairman Jose Melo admitted deficiencies in the election process last Monday. As in May 2010, the Comelec announced it will conduct an investigation into the delays and glitches creating a seven-man committee for that matter. One major cause of delay in 2,418 barangays is the failure to deliver ballots and other election paraphernalia to many Bicol, Visayan and Mindanao towns. Even nearby Bacoor, Cavite did not receive ballots for the Oct. 25 elections. And what else did Chairman Jose V. Melo do? He left for Hawaii on a vacation trip.

The Comelec now blames Congress for not deciding early whether to postpone the elections or not. That’s totally unacceptable.

The Comelec also promised to look into the many complaints that arose after the May 2010 automated elections. It has not even complied with a Supreme Court decision to reveal the source code for the automated May elections. Nothing has come out of Comelec on the matter so far. About a hundred pre-proclamation protests and petitions for invalidation of proclamation are pending in the Comelec without any decision. Foremost is the case of Secretary Joselito Atienza against Mayor Fred Lim which the Comelec gave due course too, but up to now has not started to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots. The same is true of the petition of Mayor Richie Wagas of Compostela, Cebu to invalidate the proclamation of his opponent. Four months after the elections, no recount has been started.

The simple matter of finalizing the voters’ list has not been accomplished with so many complaints from voters whose names have disappeared from the posted lists.

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CHA-CHA NOW. . . Executives of German investor GTZ and a German Embassy official has pointed out once more that the 60-40 percent restriction in the Constitution on foreign investors is a major roadblock to more foreign investments coming in.

There’s strong consensus that the economic provisions of the Constitution should be amended. It is also a political reality that the best time to amend the Constitution is within the first year of a new administration. With four months over in this administration, the time is fast running out for moves to convene a Constitutional Convention.

Other amendments that should be considered is the removal of term limits, the extension of terms of local officials and Congressmen from three to four years.

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COSTLY . . .After boasting by PNP Chief Gen. Raul Bacalzo that election related violence in the 2010 barangay/SK elections was lower at 47 incidents compared to 78 in May 2010, Police Director Benjamin Belarmino admitted Tuesday morning on Umagang Kay Ganda TV program that the total had ballooned to 78 or higher than last year with 39 deaths, 5 of them in Abra.

Add the following election related incidents to the one we published Tuesday:

Curimao, Ilocos Norte Councilor Estela Vidal shot dead in her house. In Cebu, Demetrio Sumalpan, the driver of a candidate for barangay chairman, Angel Rodriguez, was killed in an ambush. In Iloilo, 2 kagawads shot it out after the counting.

There’s good reason to consider the cancellation of barangay and SK elections to save P51 billion and lives.

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PEACE BONDS. . . The Davide Truth Commission who admits it is only fact finding claims it will investigate the CODE-NGO Peace Bonds deal involving Hyatt 10 alumnae DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and OPAPP Secretary Teresita Deles. Yes, it may investigate but will it find the two secretaries liable?

In her defense, Sec. Soliman says that she was no longer connected with CODE-NGO when the Peace Bonds were approved. But she failed to admit that her husband was the Secretary General of CODE-NGO.

The bottom line, people want to know how the P11.4 billion was used for the poor and how much in salaries and allowances were paid to the officers of CODE-NGO.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (PMP, Cagayan de Oro, 2nd dist.) has filed House Resolution 58, calling for an investigation of the CODE-NGO Peace Bonds transaction.

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TIDBITS . . . Andrew Tan’s Resorts World is drawing large crowds, resulting in a big parking problem. Alliance Global, Inc., owner of Resorts World and McDonalds with a par value of P1 is now trading at P11 per share. The stockmarket is in all time high with the Phisix at 4,286.47 . . . Cebu Pacific’s IPO priced at P125 per share opened Tuesday at P133. Next IPO is Manny Zamora’s Nickel Asia expected to be priced around P13 per share. Gold is at an all time high of $1,343 per ounce. BSP should sell some of its gold stock to cut the national government deficit.

Roel Pacquiao, brother of Manny Pacquiao was elected Barangay Chairman of Sarangani, while Lorelei Pacquiao, wife of brother Bobby was elected Chairwoman of Barangay Labangal, General Santos . . . Rep. Teddy Haresco (Kasangga Party list) is one of the best dressed in the House. He filed a Resolution asking for an investigation on the participation of Congressmen in the delayed purchase of doppler radar for Pagasa . . . As usual, Rep. Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna Party list) and Rep. Rafael Mariano (Anak Pawis) are active, useful legislators . . . MTRCB Chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares promised movie and TV producers a fair treatment . . . Makati Mayor Jun-jun Binay Jr. is projecting an image of efficiency and humility. . .Laguna Governor E.R. Ejercito comes across as arrogant but he really is not. . . Quezon Gov. Jay-jay Suarez comes across as very humble. . .

Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte has settled in to her job and is now out of the shadows of father Rudy. . .Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda is very hardworking and so is Isabela Gov. Bojie Dy Jr. who handled Typhoon Juan preparations excellently . . . One of the most effective Provincial Executives is Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla who holds a Master’s degree. . .

Karen Bertido of Davao won her case for rape against her boss before the United Nations and ordered the Philippine government to compensate her, the first such decision against a member government. A local court had dismissed her case. . .

San Francisco Giants star pitcher Tim Lincicom is of Filipino descent. He won the 1st game of the National League Championship series against the Philadelphia Phillies. . .