Defense chief: Gov't ready for 30% automation failure
MANILA, Philippines - For the first time, a ranking official of the Arroyo administration admitted that the automated elections could fail.
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales reveals up to 30% of machines to be used in the coming polls may not function properly.
He was quoting the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which supposedly made this statement in a security cluster meeting in Malacañang.
"Ang calculation nila, ang worst-case scenario is 30% baka hindi matuloy ang automation, pero ishi-shift din naman nila sa manual yun," he says in an interview with ABS-CBN News. "Ang failure of election, masasabi natin kung walang resulta. Failure of automation and tinitingnan natin."
Gonzales says even President Arroyo was surprised by the Comelec's assessment.
"Natatandaan ko ang Pangulo natin, tatlong beses na paulit-ulit yun, tinatanong talaga niya ang Comelec...Kaya naman nagpatawag siya ng National Security Council para may panahon pa para ayusin kung may diperensya, i-repair natin," he recalls.
But the Comelec asserts Gonzales might not have completely understood the Comelec statement.
"We're printing 30% of the national requirement for that [contingency]. So, kung ikoconfuse mo yung dalawa, yun na nga, mukhang scary, but these are two separate things," explains Comelec spokesman Director James Jimenez.
But Gonzales notes it is crucial to prepare for the possible automation problems come election day.
JDV: Bangit to take over
For former Arroyo ally and House Speaker Jose de Venecia, it is the administration which is behind moves to make the elections fail.
De Venecia notes that if no president, vice president or senator is proclaimed, and the Senate leadership and House speakership remain vacant, the military might take over the government.
"So by June 30, no presidential winner is proclaimed. By July 1, our friend Gen. [Delfin] Bangit, as chief of staff of the armed forces, will assume military rule. And you cannot blame him because there is no civil power," says de Venecia.
De Venecia believes Mrs. Arroyo will not step down on June 30 since several charges are expected to be filed against her.
Maclang to put career on line
But the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vehemently denies plans for a junta.
AFP vice chief of staff Rodrigo Maclang says a military rule is not part of the military's contingency plan in case of election failure.
"But we are prepared to address any event, in any event that something happens," Maclang says.
When asked if Bangit will take over in case there no proclamation by June 30, he says: "We have not talked about it right now."
Maclang, head of Task Force HOPE, which is in charge of the elections, says he will do everything to spare the military from politics, and avoid being dragged into election scandals like in 2004.
"I will not allow it. I will put my career on the line. I will resign if something happens like that in the future," says Maclang.
Maclang notes every soldier knows his role this coming elections -- protect the ballot at all times.
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LAST CALL FOR MAY 10TH ELECTION
For whatever it’s worth, consider this a final appeal before you go to the polls on Monday: Do not or never ever in your mind vote for Manuel Villaroyo or Erap Estrada.
Do not vote for Manny Villaroyo and Erapoyo because they are corrupt and incompetent. They have done nothing, but misery and bad, to deserve your vote; they will most likely do corruption and will steal more —which most certainly cannot be good—if he becomes president.
Do not vote for Manny Villaroyo and Erap Estrada because they are nothing but an opportunist and leeches in the society. They are heavily indebted to their relatives,cronies, political advisers like Gloria Arroyo and the gang, command-vote buying and financial backers, all of whom will most likely call the parasites and leeches of politics.
Make the important decisions of who we want to rule our beloved country - VOTE for Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas tandem) you will be seeing the change if these two will become the leader of our country.
Do not vote for Manny Villaroyo because of the continuing injustice; C5 scandal and the land grabbing from the poor citizen. As a Senator, Manny Villaroyo together with his cronies President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the “Hello Garci” scandal because they needed Mrs. Arroyo’s help to get the Villaroyo's family off the hook in the C5 scandal and land grabbing crimes he and his empire have committed.
When it became clear that the family could not wiggle out of the injustice and the oppressed poor farmers? This poor farmers would be forced instead to give up the lands as their only way of living, It's time to take Manny Villaroyo to court and may he serve and long awaiting jail time for the crime he committed.
Voting for Manny Villaroyo or Erap Estrada as president will continue the farce of Land grabbing, stealing, bribery and corruption for another 4 years in office,
Do not vote for Manny Villaroyo or Erap Estrada because they are liars, opportunist and corrupt politicians in history.
Do not vote for Manny Villaroyo or Erapoyo trapo because they also lied about the security stock exchange scandal . To this day, Manny Villaroyo has not explained and was mute about the issues that he is implicated to and would not want to answer any questions regarding their involvement.
Do not vote for Villaroyo because he is a liar two-faced and traditional politician who is a great pretender as poor and he will say anything to a particular group and buy their votes to get elected as president. He keeps the progressive pro-choice advocates believing that he is for contraception (as he was in the House) and claims to be as his way of getting the votes when he is talking to the Church groups and media. BE CAREFUL OF THIS MAN.
Manny Villaroyo is also willing to dump his long-suffering partner Loren Legarda for Binayorro another pathetic infidels who has nothing but to air out dirty laundry in public just to get the sympathy of voters. But alas, Mar will win anyway
DO NOT LISTEN TO JAIHO because he was paid with huge amount of money from the Villaroyo and like Willie Revillame he is pushing for the opportunist and liar Manny Villaroyo. Let’s make sure that Manny Villaroyo and Erapoyo trapo will not win, if only because you really want to know if they can lead our country to install them in Malacañang, just like their Master Gloria Arroyo the pandak. For one thing, Erapoyo is been proven criminal and was impeach for doing so. Manny Villaroyo will follow suit when new administration kick in. Manny will be kaput and we all hope that the new administration will not pardon this criminal.
And don’t vote for Manny Villaroyo simply because you have fond memories of the scholarship award, and his throwing of money like water to people for them to believe that he is really for the poor? Not because you hate the current president, Manny Villaroyo and Erapoyo are no difference than Gloria Arroyo. They are all the same corrupt and opportunist.
Don’t vote for Manny Villaroyo and Erapoyo because they said, they will not steal again and would make our country a better place to live. Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas vow to curve corruption and will not steal because both are already rich and they are tired and sick of these anomaly and trademark of the corrupt politician in office today.
Everyone knows it is wrong to steal (but not for Manny Villaroyo and Erap Estrada because this is their hobby and way of living)—why would Noynoy be voted into office simply for promising to do what everyone should be doing? "THOU SHALL NOT STEAL" and NOYNOY AND MAR will not steal. THEIR GOAL IS TO CLEAN UP THE BAD IMAGE OF POLITICS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND I HOPE WE ARE ALL FOR IT. I KNOW I AM.....ARE YOU?
AND LASTlY, Please DON’T LISTEN to those corrupt politicians LOYALISTS who are running. THEY HAVE ONE INTENTION, to get your trust and Votes so they can continue their lifestyle of corruption and injustice.
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN AND DO IT ALL TOGETHER.
LP STRAIGHT!
VOTE FOR NOYNOY AQUINO AND MAR ROXAS TANDEM FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT…
GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES…..