Straight from the Heart

Abs Damahan

Experienced in the first poll automation with PCOS

After 90 days of campaign sorties election fever end-up with many of lost of lives due to related political violence, hurting of many hearts and also losses of fat saving in the multiple bank accounts. The winning candidates are lucky enough to posture themselves how to recover their bulk of expenses in the span of the campaign period, while the losing candidates are imagining like a Shoalin drunkard masters counting the stones and stars on how they recover huge losses without profit gains. Post election related violence mars the dirty image of Philippine politics portrays immaturity kind of gruesome the incivility cultures and traits of Pinoy politics. Painful experienced of first automated election despite aberration of technical glitches of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machines in some Precinct Polling Places. But, the systems in whole processes are average passing grades. Naturally, anything applicable system is considered new has always a flapped in the start of the operation until such time has it improvement for perfection.

COMELEC still need some improvement and innovation for the conduct of an automated electoral process in the area precinct distribution. As electorate of the first poll automation, I experienced a long line-up before reaching my Precinct Polling Place and cast my sacred vote. Next time automated election the Commission must bids guarantee and durable PCOS Machines suited for a tropical country like Philippines. COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM make it sure to the electorate will not experience the same technical difficulties and delays what voters feel today’s national polls. Voters disturb by confusion could not locate his/her names in the voters master lists; it could take time delays to get the precinct numbers.  For the shading of the official ballot it will only consume 3-5 minutes marking the choosing candidates. The Commission still has a lot of works adaptation and revision for better COMELEC in the future. Poll automation must patterns to the international standards of modern technology electoral modernization in modern democracy. One of my concerns is Ballot Secrecy Folders is not fit to the long ballot form, it seems is not secrecy, but an open ballot inserted to PCOS Machines even seen by the BEI.

Signal deficiency of transmitting volumes data from the Precinct Polling Places using Precinct Counting Optical Scan (PCOS) Machines to Municipal, Provincial and National Board of Canvassers is likely encountered delayed in comfort to reach the National Counts Center. When we observed modern US and Europe electoral processes, by the hour the winning candidates are known to the public and declare by the independent election Commission out-rightly.

Based on COMELEC official counting it shows LP opposition bet Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino-III is pretty sure the winner as newly elected President of the republic One Philippines. By seeing the result of local elected officials he needs coalition government. I suggest he should form unity government for his administration to survive. Liberal Party is likely a minority government of both Houses of Congress would prelude to “hung Congress” will not produce majority government of his administration. Aquino’s governments need support from both Houses of Congress for the smooth passage of his legislative agenda.

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761

Straight from the Heart

Independent Press of Zamboanga Peninsula, Inc. (IPZPI)

10-Point Guidelines for Choosing The Right Candidates

The officers, Board of Directors, and Member of the IPZPI will guide our electorate intelligently and wisely in their choices of local and national candidates on May 10, 2010 election.

1.      1. A candidate who possesses the required educational and technical qualifications, competences, skills, abilities, and desirable work ethics for the public office he seeks or aspire to occupy;

2.       2. Who make no distinction about the ethnicity, social status, economic status, educational background, historical and cultural origins or religious affiliations as long he/she a Filipinos. He treats all the inhabitants of the Philippines equally without prejudices, biases, and discriminatory acts on account of ethnicity. He deals with all of them with same level of respect and dignity;

3.       3. Who epitomizes and actualizes the processes, principles and ideals of a genuinely democratic, participatory, and pluralistically consultative governance;

4.       4. Who values, respects, and harnesses the useful, positive, and constructive ideas, talents, and leadership potentials of subordinates and ordinary citizens, and consult them comprehensively on all issues and concerns having to do with public welfare and interest;

5.      5  Who never dare or attempt even to the slightest degree, to dip his fingers into the coffers of the taxpayers or sovereign people and spend public funds to aggrandize himself or his family;

6.     6. Who demonstrates the highest sense of public ethics and morality and will never attempt to use public vehicles, equipment, and facilities to advance his personal and family interest;

7.      7. Who wholeheartedly works for the holistic and equitable expansion, development, and progress of this politically stunted republic toward the countryside, and empower the  different provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays to chart their own destiny without undue pressures and coercive influence from higher authorities;

8.     8.  Who shows the highest respect for the rule of law and an uncompromising adherence, devotion, and transparency in all government deals, transactions, and operation;

9.      9. Who considers the great republic as a common homeland for all the different cultural communities, and residents and not a a private property or exclusive territorial possession of a dynasty; and

10. 10.  Above all and most importantly, who manifests a deep and abiding faith in the Almighty and die-hard protector and defender of human rights, civil liberties, harmonious relation,  peaceful co-existence, and living side-by-side among the multi-cultural diversity population of the republic. 

Straight from the Heart

Abduljaman ‘Abs’ A. Damahan

The lost prestige name of COMELEC must restore.

Compact Flash Cards of the total 76,000 would be the cause of aberration set-back on the first automated national polls. COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM are now under the suspicious of doubt from the electorate who are going to cast their votes on Monday May 10 election day. Since the time of immemorial this Commission is always full of controversies when election fever came into pictures, but, I cannot blame our citizenry and the electorate because the reputation of the Commission is tarnishes by their actuation of performances remain under questioned every election is conducted. We are not totally blame the Commission in their flap, but, how this institution very important to the foundation for democratic system of government supposes this should be a dignified quasi independent branch of public office. Citizenry express their complaints and sentiment COMELEC officials as always tags with bad names, and I hate to say this to the public allegedly, it’s branded KOMOLEK- collect and collect office perceive to be a crooked and corrupted public officials of the Commission. To Chairman Melo under your stewardship save the lost prestige and reputable name of this Commission and clean the doubt from the dirty mind of our politicians and the electorate.

COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM confirmed today at least 60,000 reconfigures Flash Cards will be delivered to the Precinct Polling Places all over the regions, provinces and municipalities to beat the deadline as required by the Omnibus election laws. COMELEC Commissioner said, the Commission will target at least 70% of the total Precinct Polling Places all over country will have fully automated on May 10 national election, while the 30% of the polling places will go to manual counting due to the signal deficiency problem cause of not having or reaching by the Communication Carrier of our National Telecommunication Company.  With their valid explanation and reasons, I think, this is acceptable by our electorate who will cast their on Monday, May 10, 2010 National poll. With the ratio 70-30 figures of the technical glitches of the Compact Flash Cards Disc still very minimal, if there would be a Hi-tech fraud operator in the automated election of 2010. Independents poll watchdog and IT expert s must be aware of this possible scenario to minimize the election fraud using the advance and Hi-tech gadgets of the modern technologies.

Foreign Tipster: I would like to thanks the foreign friend who relay message to me of about the participation of foreign observers scattered all over the Philippines archipelago, as poll watchdog to the first automated election of this country. He relay also the participation of the foreign media for the full coverage in the conduct of Philippines national poll. He said further “Philippines election is the most awaited events of 2010 fully watch by the global community”. He leaves up message of hope to have clean and honest election and for a peaceful and orderly transition of power on July 1, 2010.

I will cast my on Monday with the grace of God in the hopes; this is a sacred vote is for the cause unity of great republic One Philippines. Whoever will be elected to lead us for the next years? He/she becomes the unification President Lead by example for an inclusive government to all Filipinos regardless who we are of multi-diversity people with different trait and cultures. For progress and development Filipinos must together as one society of the Southeast Asia, once is the number one nation from among neighbors of the Southeast Asia in term of an economic growth.

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761

Straight from the Heart

Abduljaman ‘Abs’ A. Damahan

Peaceful and Clean National Polls is the only hope for the smooth transition of power

In the international scene of politics recently Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan-Darfur election have conducted their national polls very successful manned by an Independents Election Commission organized by the UN and the International Community. At the start of the organizing phases and campaign sorties these nations suffered of the tremendous casualties due to internal conflicts and civil strife. The occurrence of political violence’s are surmountable bloodies resulted of heavy tolls of death in the streets capital of these countries. But, despite of the reign of internal strife at the time of Election Day voters parading and line-up to the polling places and cast their votes enjoy their privilege rights under their Rights of Suffrage. By observing from the distance in the aftermath of post-election period of this trouble nations they are in transition for the smooth transfer power road for peaceful and stable states. From the point of view looking at their new political development of this trouble regions they are going to have a positive outlook and have quite political changes in the ground. Fresh mandate of new leaders is really the infinite solution to peaceful community of nations, if is really seriously done of the people and by the people for the people.

 COMELEC and Smartmatic Co. must address the short-coming on the CS Cards glitches by adopting affront technical measures for the reconfiguration of the memory cards of the PCOS Machines. Never allow our citizenry to go panic by simple glitches of the electronic voting systems. Commission and Smartmatic responsible IT experts are part of their jobs to have support system as contingency solution for the mal-function of PCOS Machines. When problem arises like what happens now to technical trouble of the PCOS Machines, it almost completed distributed to all Precinct Polling places. I suggest in order to have full confident of the electorates to fully achieve the Honest, Orderly, Peaceful and Election (HOPE). Technical support persons of the Commission and Smartmatic Co. must now in the area of their respective coverage’s all over the regions, provinces and municipalities assignment. An advance parties from the Commission should now task to the area of assignments.

Peaceful and smooth transition of power will rely to COMELEC on how to handle the election proceeding of this coming May 10 National polls. My only fears on the electoral process, if the schemes of “Hello Garci” experienced are repeating by the Commission. But, if they really fair enough to assure us and sustain the credibility of Commission, I don’t see any reasons we encounter political crisis and still in doubtful scenario to have a failure of election. I don’t think so, this will happen under this Commission. Pagbutihan mo Chairman Melo kayo ang referee sa mga mag-uumpugan higanteng politico ng republika natin.

With the strong endorsement of INC to LP bet Presidential candidate Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino-III I am fully confident the next president will be for the first time a bachelor in the next six years term. Kailan kaya mag-pakasal si Noynoy kay Konsehala Shalani dapat imbitado ang iyong abang lingkod. Hindi biro lang Noy….

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761

Straight from the Heart

Abduljaman ‘Abs’ A. Damahan

COMELEC should never allow to happen the failure of National polls.

The true guardian of democracy is the power of the people through electoral process. Our Constitution is the basic law of the state governing the democratic institution of the republic this cannot be denied by the persons and officials of the authority whether elected and appointed. As citizen of the nation, we have always the privilege rights to depend its Constitutional rights under our Bill of Rights in the articles of the Rights of Suffrage. The success of the May 10, 2010 national poll it depend how the COMELEC will handle the whole process of clean and credible election results by committing ourselves through Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Election (HOPE). No matter the dirty tricks kind of political maneuvering in precinct polling places will be applied, if the voters resist not accepting dirty kinds of politics in the ground. Electorates must have free will to votes on May 10 without fears, intimidations and coercions from the bad element of political supporters who wish to be elected by force of their leaders in a kind of electoral fraud not by a true mandate of the people.

As registered and qualified voters for May 10 election, we have the freedom to cast our sacred votes for a chosen leader to whom we trust and believe that the next president for the term of six years will surely lead us for an abundance of an opportunities deserve to be boldly and honest president. The power of elected leaders is in the hand of voters from the casting of votes shaded legibly in an almost two meters of official ballots of the COMELEC. Choice the best to whom you trust as our rightful leaders of our great republic.

On first poll automation let us all have faith in the conduct of electronic voting system. Both Houses of Congress passed the law for its purpose and then appropriated multi-million funds come from the national budget of the peoples’ tax money, just for the allotments of expenditures of this voluminous election equipment and paraphernalia. The Commission is just to have a modern system for the first time of automated election for this country.  Anyway, with the full participation of an expert of Information Technology (IT), independent polls watchdog, election volunteers, media observers both locals and international news organization will be there to have a full coverage of our historic election events of the Philippines.

I am fully aware and convince through experience using modern technologies whatever they are like PC, PCOS and other data equipment still on the process normal standard operating procedures- garbage in and garbage out. What you feed to PCOS machines is the outputs of the data results.  An IT expert knows it better for the full operation of the electronic gadgets of the COMELEC no doubt in it. All political parties and candidates must have trust to the IT they commissioned and hired for the security and safety of election results counted by the PCOS machines. Magtiwala tayo sa kakayahan ng Komisyon….

IPTV- is the secret of campaign strategies for Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino-III to reach as many voters both local and international audience.

Note: To all media colleagues happy World Press Freedom globally anywhere in this planet world.

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761

Straight from the Heart

Abduljaman ‘Abs’ A. Damahan

Washington Post Comments on Philippine Politics

This report comes at a time the true pictures of Philippines politics comments from a foreign observer. This remark very disgusting and challenging, this should be taken seriously by our politicians who will be elected after the May 10, 2010 national polls.

The article titled “In Philippines, pre-vote largess doesn’t translate into post-vote progress,” has deemed pre-election scenario in the country as a politician’s showcase of talent, while the aftermath, a source of disappointment.

“Pre-election good times are almost always followed by post-election betrayal,” the articled authored by Blaine Harden read. “Politicians who win election in this former US colony have one of the worst records in Southeast Asia for stiffing the poor, coddling the rich and indulging themselves.”

The article also cited bad governance, political killings, rising crime rate, Filipino immigrants, and the presence of terrorist group, as reasons why the Philippines remain a “poor” country.

In addition, what Mr. Harden missed in his reports the gravity of graft and corruptions of public governance in the Philippines?  Elected leaders disregard the systematically importance of public management in addressing the core sickness of bad governance, why Philippines is so corrupt society in Southeast Asia. Our neighbors Singapore and Malaysia has steady and sustain economic growth, while Philippines remain in the club of poorest nation.  While, we are pooled of a talented professionals and skilled workers known globally our immigrant jobs seeker are destine hired by Singapore and other advance and developed nations worldwide.

Lifting the prestige lost it depend who will be the next president of the republic after May 10 election, chances to reform the rotten system is the next administration, if he has sincere motives to regain the lost of our moral ascendancy. Does he have strong courage for moral recovery programs of our diluted society to excel for the best? The compelling reasons we should have the ability to elect boldly and honest president to lead us for the next six years uninterrupted performance with a kind of stature of good leadership and at far dedication.

Try to look now to US domestic and foreign policy more focuses on reforming the Americans interest, they elect President Barack Obama a very serious and sincere motivational politician willing to accept advice from the team advisers- US economy is going to rebound from the economic down-turned. Wall Street’s it almost of brink for financial melt-down its back for full recovery in upswing in their 1^st Quarter reports. Dow Jones is on up trend on their summary reports. Suwerte sila maka tagpo Pangulo ng matino at mahusay, kalian pa kaya sa Pinas?

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761

Straight from the Heart

Abduljaman ‘Abs’ A. Damahan

Dirty Politics of the Philippines

The Philippine politics still in the level of mudslinging and personal character assassination, far from the real issue and platform agenda of good governance in public administration focus on social, economy, financial reform, policy reform, and politics for change. We remain succumb to dirty old fashion politics, the campaign level a destructive digging on personal issue rather than reforming the rotten system into a politics of performance. For many decades our politics is far behind to compare with the rest developed and progressive nations of the world.

Civilized and advance nations deeply debate and discuss on core issue protecting their values and interest of the state. American and European politics teasels for high degree of an economic performance at far excellence by always prioritize their standard of living of its people, debating on healthcare reform programs and jobs creation, protecting the Human Development Index (HDI) and the family income of every household.

By searching the data of family threshold online of mostly develop nations of the world, you can find most of these nations of less percentiles belong to poverty threshold. GNP growth is substantial and sustain in a multiple amounts of US$ currency to compare with the Philippines GNP figures and economic indicators. This should be the focus of our public debate, in fora and discussion rather than personal attacking, black propaganda and mudslinging campaign to malign political foes. Philippine politics still very discouraging atmosphere unhealthy branded of campaign level to many of us political punditries. In the whole electoral process its look likely creates negative side-effects for the nations’ political maturity of Pinoy type of politics.

Our politics remain on the status of culture of violence, political killings, power abuse, corruption, dynastism and culture of impunity. All negative side-effects are within of our social trait; this is how we play politics in the Philippines. Extreme politics will likely to rule in our political fever comes afflicted by grave coercion, intimidation and gangterism to garners as many votes. Political operators in every precinct level will still be dominating forces at the rural and remote barangays independent poll watchdog should remain vigilant if comes, they will be a massive fraud operation on May 10 election.

Money politics supported by organized political machineries could change popular votes. Opposition candidates should have a counter safety-net to minimize the vote-buying and dirty trick of politics. This will going to happen in every control votes of most barangays of the Mindanao Provinces, Cities and Municipalities. This should be watched by the independent poll watchers and poll volunteers. Manmanan at tutukan...

For comments, reactions and suggestions please e-mail at abs_damahan@yahoo.com or call to tel No. 062-926-9418 or text Cell. No. 09283147761