Tubag Jugatan, an Aeta leader from Zambales, tries feeding the ballot into the insertion slot of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine to be used in the May 10, 2010 elections. (February 12, 2010)

MANILA, Philippines—Seventy-four indigenous peoples (IPs) and peasants hurdled a poll automation exercise given by non-government organizations with the help of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) representative. 

During a voters' education training seminar held Friday, the IPs and peasants from different parts of Luzon were not intimidated by the machine, even though most, if not all of them, had only seen the machine for the first time.

Comelec representative Victoria Dulcero of the poll body’s Education and Information Department taught them how to properly fill up and shade the ballot, what the procedures will be come May 10, and what the different parts of the machine are.

The training in Manila was organized by the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER) and the Project Development Institute (PDI). IPER is a civil society organization pushing for clean and honest elections, while PDI is a non-government organization pushing for rights of farmers, IPs and other marginalized groups.

“Congratulations!” the participants all shouted after the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine accepted the 2-feet ballot fed by a volunteer.

After the instructions were given and the short demonstration with participation of some volunteers was held, the IPs and peasants were asked: “Madali ba (Was it easy)?”

In chorus, they shouted: “Madali (Easy)!”

They were also asked whether they understood how to do it, and they also shouted yes. They also said they were excited to teach what they had learned to the people in their communities.

When abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak asked Dulcero whether she was surprised that everyone found the whole exercise easy, she said: “Not at all. Shading is very basic and the machine is not as complicated as they (detractors) make it out to be.”

The participants did not try to fill out the ballot, but they were allowed to inspect parts of the ballot. They did not ask a lot of questions; instead, they listened to Dulcero’s step-by-step report on how to vote properly.

The IPs and peasant leaders were asked to vote among themselves who would try feeding the ballot into the machine. Four fed ballots that were properly filled out, while 2 fed tampered ballots which were not accepted by the PCOS machine. 

Not intimidated by automation

“Mukhang Xerox lang yan (it just looks like a photocopying machine),” said Carling Dumulot, an Aeta leader from Zambales who saw the machine for the first time.

He was not worried about the machine but the long ballot. He said it would take a lot of time to look for the people he wants to vote for.

Dulcero advised everyone that they should bring with them a list of candidates they want to vote for in the upcoming elections.

Luming Candelaria, a 58-year-old poll watcher since the 1986 presidential elections, was glad about the speed of counting of the machines.

Candelaria, who comes from Pampanga, said teachers have a hard time manually counting the votes. It is also very tiresome for watchers to wait for them to finish counting, she said.

“Salamat at mababawasan ang trabaho, instant na (It is good that work will be lessened. This time there are instant results),” she said

Although Candelaria was happy about the speed, Dumulot was worried that “intelligent” people could manipulate the count without people knowing it. 

Illiterate voters

Because most IP elders are illiterate, IPER executive director Ramon Casiple told them to make sure that they would be registered as illiterate voters in the next elections.  

In past elections, illiterate IPs have been fooled into voting for other candidates by those assisting them. (Read: Aetas find power in innovative education).
 

Dulcero referred to Comelec Resolution 8739, which contains guidelines for illiterate voters.  

Section 30 of the resolution allows illiterate voters to bring an assistant who is a relative within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. Also, any person who is of voting age, registered in the same precinct and a member of the illiterate’s household, can be an assistant.

A board of election inspector (BEI) could be an assistant as well.

Among others, the law says that the assistant must swear that he or she will not tell anyone who the illiterate is voting for. This should be included in the minutes or the notes of the BEIs during Election Day.

The assistant may help not more than 3 people.

Peasants still not important?

Aside from introducing them to poll automation, IPER project coordinator Francis Isaac gave a presentation about the history of Philippine elections for the participants to be able to understand the current political situation. 

IP representatives watched a video about the history of Philippine elections. The video is hosted by comedian and television and radio host Arvin “Tado” Jimenez.

When the video showed that in the 1907 elections, only 25-year-old males (and above) who have a property worth P500 or above were allowed to vote, the participants gasped.
Isaac said only 1.4% of the population were able to vote.

The participants quickly noted down on their small pieces of paper the details Isaac were telling them.
They wrote down who were not allowed to vote during that time: 1) women; 2) the illiterate; and, 3) those who did not own property.

“Majority of the members of the first Philippine Assembly were lawyers and landowners,” Isaac said. He added that political families who were in power then, are still in power now.

Isaac said that although now, the poor, women and illiterate are able to vote, it would be hard to remove from power those who no longer represent the interest of the people.

But he told the IPs not to lose hope, “We have to vote for those who are with us and would forward our interests.”

Injustice against the poor

When the floor was opened for questions, an IP leader from Bataan asked: “How come those detained could not vote, and Jaloslos, who was sentenced and guilty of rape, is allowed to run and even won?” (Editor's note: Former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos is not running in the May 10 polls.)

Another IP leader Dumulot asked: “Bakit ang mahirap na nagnakaw ng itlog at nakulong ay bawal bumoto samantalang si Erap (deposed President Joseph Estrada, running for President in the May 2010 elections) ay pinatawad at tatakbo (How come the poor who stole an egg is still in prison and not allowed to vote while Erap is pardoned and running for the highest post)?”

Most of the participants complained of “injustice and discrimination against the poor” after both questions were asked. 

Hopeful in the next elections

Hoping for a truly representative government, Helen Marian from Nueva Ecija said that they should encourage their communities to vote for who they believe in, and not what infomercials are saying about the candidates.

“Nagsisimula sa atin ang lahat. Nagagalit tayo sa tradisyonal na mga pulitiko ngunit naluluklok lang sila dahil tayo ay nagiging tradisyonal na mga botante (Everything starts with us as voters. We get mad at traditional politicians but they are seated in high positions because we become traditional voters),” she said.

She explained that traditional voters are bought and fooled by moneyed politicians.
With the upcoming automated elections, they not only hoped for clean elections but also a clean government that would inspire future leaders.