Maguindanao, Philippines

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may seek the help of the military in securing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this August.

James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, said the poll body is wary over the situation in some areas of the region.

“In recent months, the situation in some areas had been heating up… and the Comelec wants to beef-up military presence in the area,” Jimenez said on Tuesday.

He however said the poll body acknowledges a Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2006 that prohibits the military from taking an active role during elections.

“There would be a command conference where we will make an assessment of the situation and also… we have to look at the MOA and ironed out some of the kinks,” Jimenez said.

The MOA prohibits military personnel, facilities and equipment from being used in the conduct of elections, except when there’s a serious armed threat that would undermine the holding of the polls.

GMANews.TV

The Commission on Elections on Thursday formally sealed an agreement with a bidder for the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) technology, ensuring full automation of the conduct of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in August.

After the contract signing with Avanti International Technology Inc., Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said, “Damn the torpedoes. It’s full steam ahead.”

The OMR technology, which Avanti would provide, will be used in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) technology will be provided by Smartmatic-Sahi Technologies in Maguindanao for the elections.

Smartmatic, which struck a P525-million package deal with the election body, will be responsible for transmitting, canvassing, and consolidating the results of the polls. By Jeannette Andrade

INQUIRER.net

MAGUINDANAO: Ten-year-old Dino and two younger boys were harassing a hapless chicken under a neighbor’s nipa house. Covered with dust, the boys obviously hadn’t had a bath just yet that day, and had chosen to go after the chicken, while other children in this village trooped to a nearby river to soak and to play.

It looked like a typical village scene— only that it was the middle of a school day and Dino (not his real name) and many children should have been in class. But the classrooms in his school were shuttered, because its four teachers were attending a meeting in the capital.

In fact, they had been away—supposedly for meetings—for two weeks already, and no one was sure when they would be returning. Residents here also said the primary school had had more class suspensions than actual sessions, which made the children quite happy, but had their parents upset.

A mother of three whose children go to the same school as Dino’s said she and other parents had repeatedly pleaded with local education officials to appoint more teachers. “We complained because classes are rarely held,” said the parent, who like several interviewees here requested anonymity for herself and this town. “They told us to go to the district office ourselves and request regular teachers.” By Jaileen F. Jimeno, Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism
Manila Times

THE Regional Trial Court dismissed the charges filed against a scion of a powerful clan in Maguindanao who was accused of shooting a man inside The Venue compound six years ago.

RTC Judge Emmanuel Carpio cleared Mohamad Banarin Ampatuan after the parents of the victim, Carlo Asistido executed their affidavit of desistance.

In a two-page order, Carpio said “the affidavit of desistance submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Asistido is tantamount to a withdrawal of evidence for the prosecution.”

In the same order, Carpio said “when asked, the prosecution raised no serious objection for the dismissal of the case and left the matter to the discretion of the court,” thus, the dismissal.

Ampatuan, assisted by his counsel, pleaded not guilty to a homicide case during his arraignment.

Carpio earlier ordered the Office of the Clerk of Court to release the bond posted by Ampatuan in the amount of P500,000 and ordered the latter to post P40,000 after the Northern Mindanao Regional State Prosecutor’s Office downgraded his case from murder to homicide.

Private prosecutor Ranoelo Leonar earlier submitted his opposition for the reduction of bond, saying the accused was flight risk, considering the “political and financial status” of the accused.

On the other hand, the accused, through his counsel, opposed Leonar’s claim, saying such claim was misleading since the accused has stayed in Mindanao after the filing of the case six years ago.

Ampatuan is accused of killing Carlo Asistido inside The Venue compound on Jacinto Extension, Davao City, at 2:30 a.m. of July 28, 2002. By Rhodamae M. Hernandez

Sun.Star Davao