BICOL TASK FORCE POLL WATCH

BICOL TASK FORCE POLL WATCH
PRESS STATEMENT
May 15, 2007

In 2001, the Bayan Muna Partylist gained more than 250,000 votes in the Bicol Region. And in 2004, the progressive partylists (Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Partylist, Anakbayan, Migrante and Suara Bangsamoro) garnered a total of 216,000 votes. Given the expansion of memberships and sustained campaign efforts, the five progressive partylists, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Partylist, Kabataan and Suara Bangsamoro, projects to earn at least 370,000 votes in the 2007 elections.

The military and the Arroyo administration, the main culprits of the massive electoral fraud and violence in 2004, were responsible for the decrease in the progressive partylist votes in 2004. GMA’s machinery for cheating, illegal maneuvers and state terrorism is still in place.

Hence, the poll watchers, canvass watchers, members and supporters of the progressive partylists are struggling against the expected various forms of harassment and violence unleashed by the military and Malacañang operatives.

On election day, Bayan Muna pollwatchers were denied entry to precincts by the BEIs in Barangay Pinaghaluban, Barcelona, Sorsogon, citing a military briefing branding Bayan Muna and the other progressive partylists as communist fronts. As of presstime, canvass watchers in the Municipality of Bulan, Sorsogon and other parts of the Bicol Region are experiencing different forms of harassment and intimidation from the military in collusion with the BEIs and BOCs.

In two precincts in Legazpi City, Precinct Nos. 0271-A and 0272-A in Barangay Kawit East Washington, tallied Kabataan votes were not reflected in the Election Returns prompting Kabataan pollwatchers to raise protests thereby forcing the BEIs to make the necessary corrections.

In Naga City, at around 8pm on May 13, 2007, armed men were seen placing campaign steamers for Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women’ Partylist having the CPP/NPA/NDF-Bicol as signatories. These were strategically placed outside the polling precincts. When apprehended by local authorities, these men claimed to be “special operatives” from Camp Crame. This is a concrete proof of the desperate but vain attempts of the military and the Arroyo administration to sabotage the five progressive partylists.

The five progressive partylists through its vigilant and competent poll and canvass watchers and team of legal counsels will expose and frustrate these undemocratic schemes of the Arroyo administration.
The Bicol TFPW QUICKCOUNT calls on all patriotic and peace loving Bicolanos and Filipinos to protect the vote, thwart all attempts of the military and Arroyo administration to once again manipulate the results of the elections and sow fear among the people.

Expose and fight all forms of electoral fraud and violence!

Reference person:
Jocelyn A. Bisuña
Spokeperson, Bicol TFPW QUICKCOUNT
Contact No. 09284725517