Straight from the Heart

Abs Damahan

The emotional Teddy ‘Boy’ Locsin

As media practitioner I sympathized Makati City Representative Teodoro “Teddy Boy ” Locsin Jr., Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Reforms and Suffrage, expose what he has in his possession in relation on still inconclusive 1^st national poll automated election Halalan 2010. Public demand it’s really wanted to know what transpired on this historic election, we are still in doubting for the factual election results on the credibility and acceptability of our electoral process. Fifty (50) million voters perceive in euphoria to the validity of Election Returns (ERs) transmitted to COMOLEC National Command Counts Center and PPCRV Commands Center allegedly tainted with the discrepancies in figures, time, dates and etcs.

Investigation should dig deeper by the House Committee on Electoral Reforms and Suffrage after the proclamation of the new president and install to Malacanang Palace. I am against the delay of canvassing for the position of President and Vice-President in order to have a smooth transition of power on July 1, 2010 as prescribed in our Republic Constitution of 1987. We should avoid of having power vacuum that may happens in our political exercise, if we are going to derail the normal proceeding of our electoral processes.

The truth in just concluded automated election should come-out in due time so that electorate be awakes in the future poll automation election. Systems it must be corrected for perfections by the Commission and partners companies not repeated like what happen now in our post-election period is look likely disturbing to every-one of us in the goals of RP’s modern democracy. Global community is still watching us, on how to deal with the internal political practices. Political observers see us” Pinoy politics conceive barely immature and disorganized what they saw in the streets Capital and other part of the regions in recent past election period-“ a society of a polarize nation without positive outlook for core urgency change and renewal”. Actually, this is really hurting statements, but, we should accept reality the cultures of violence remain the tradition Pinoy politics. It deems valid comments from the outsiders in the actuation and conduct of the Philippine Politics.

Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. lost his temper and uttered expletives words during the Committee hearing after Smartmatic-TIM, which supplied the voting equipment, was prompted to make the admission from the latter.

“Do you realize what fools you have made of legislation that pushed for this law? Your assurance was that if fraud is committed, we will be able to trace it….Now you’re telling me this? Said an irate Locsin. Source: Yahoo News.

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 Blog: http://absdamahan.wordpress.com

Straight from the Heart

Abs Damahan

Let’s see the Aquino administration how to govern our republic

More than 90 million Pinoy from Batanes to Jolo Sulu and more than half of the 50 million qualified voters voted for the front-runner of Presidential LP bet Benigno ‘Noynoy’ S. Aquino and including myself voted for him in just concluded first nationwide automated election 2010.

It would be a touching message of hope for the supporters of Noynoy, when the Queen of talk show Kris Aquino-Yap releases a message of thanks on her prime time show “The Buzz” last Sunday. She would promise to leave some of her shows, if President-apparent formally assume office on July 1, 2010, she really wanted to help Noynoy in his administrative functions inside the Palace when call for to deliver a truly genuine services to the people of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. She also recounted the supports of other personalities behind the success of her contributions to Noynoy’s campaign victory in the first poll automated election.

Let’s see those promises would comes to reality and remain to be seen in every speeches he delivered during the stint of campaign sorties. As a political pundit, I will base my judgments on performance during Noynoy’s terms in office not on his purely rhetoric speeches at the time of campaign period. Team Aquino should always review and recall that very important platform address he made. And make sure that they will return to the people of what they compromise and fulfill the commitments to the supporters in time they need supports from the electorates.

Many politicians failed in his/her chosen careers because of broken promises some of them are good for one term only. The rest exceptional few, they are survive because of witty-gritty sweet-talks consider a very excellence in communication to the avid and loyal supporters. But, this kind of politicians are rare can maintain a midas touch to the people for so long of holding supporters in the ground a branded finished termer politicians.

Observers both inside and outside of the country will focus to the public policy of Aquino administration to fulfill on his strong anti-graft platform and promise to restore the integrity of Congress and the judiciary. It’s a bit fascinating to watch by all of us belong to the fourth estate of media practioners. For my part I will do that when he formally assume office on July 1, 2010. By tradition for the new Chief Executive, we are looking at his performance for the first 100 days in office.

My wishes to Noynoy and Team Noynoy, he can choice a credible and qualified Cabinet Secretaries under his wings to run the government with utmost dedicated public service for the best interest of the nation and people’s interest.

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

Abs Damahan

Aquino Presidency a triumph of strong Democracy in RP

While still inconclusive set-up of government turned into high political drama after Presidential Liberal Party (LP) bet Benigno ‘Noynoy’ S. Aquino for sure winner in the first poll automated election of 2010. PGMA LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD blocs are beaten but still battling to control the lower house. She has now 80 members of Congressmen and Congresswomen who committed for her bid for House Speakership. PGMA what she is doing now is tacticizing to garner at least 143 votes for her Speakerships’ bid and she almost transfixed the commitment support of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives. I think it really the cause of head-ache for the Aquino administration to ideologically dissimilar of his new policy in running government smoothly. LP bloc should admit they are now belonging to the minority government of both two houses.

In recent Britain’s Parliamentary election Labour Party’s of incumbent PM Gordon Brown defeated by the Conservatives youngster David Cameron is the same with Philippines political drama.  Conservative leader fell short of majority as results showed his party had won 306 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons less than 326 needed for outright victory. What Cameron did to rebalancing political power and get the majority Parliament, he negotiated with the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg has it 57 members to form a coalition government just for the interest of British Government to institute promising quick legislation on electoral reform and other legislative agenda still pending in the Chamber of British Parliament. That how quick British politicians can fix their political indifferences. David Cameron is now PM of British Government in short spans of time consuming.

For Noynoy’s political team, “It’s vital that this political vacuum is filled as quickly as possible,” for transfixing the scenario of “Hung Congress”. The LP leaderships should seize the initiative with a “comprehensive offer” to the other political blocs with similar ideology in common to form majority government. They are in dire for a vibrant strong democracy to have a unity government, if his administration is seriously enough to institute change and reform public governance. By the power vested in him as Chief Executive of the state, he has no reasons cannot pursue the agenda of good government if he doing so for the nation’s interest. “I think it is for now for the Liberal Party to prove that it is capable of seeking support to govern in the national interest.”

RP’s experienced to dictatorial regimes for 20 years, it’s so happens the Aquino’s clans suffered most in those darkest days under the hands of dictatorship president, by that painful experienced they had, Noynoy presidency would struggle to preserve a strong democratic government in the Southeast Asia, since many of our neighbors nations remains in pseudo autotarian rules and autocratic governments. It’s therefore, have great chances Philippine politics can move forward to institute public governance in order to eliminate the deep rooted corrupt society and bad governance in both public management and private sector. He must also focus the reform of the mountainous problem in our political systems under our republican government.

Moral authority and moral ascendancy it deems to be supposed “the core values of the Aquino administration “is beyond the expectation of the youngster electorates who voted for him contributes for a solid votes in just concluded 1^st poll automated election of 2010-Iboto mo Ipatrol mo ito ang Simula on ABS-CBN Halalan 2010, all over 80 thousand youth volunteers at the same time they form themselves as poll watchers to guard the sanctity of the malfunctioned PCOS Machines and the election paraphernalia.

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

Abs Damahan

Cleaning the House for the smooth transition of power

What incoming Aquino administration should prioritize now is the cleaning the house before assuming presidency. The barometer of good government and attracting both local and foreign investors is the political stability of this country. Team Aquino should do now lay-down the policy of the new administration what do people expect from them. New administration needs strong, stable decisive government and it is in the national interest that we get that on secure basis on their comprehensive programs that people benefits from it. LP Party bet Noyno Aquino-III has no clear platforms of government in all his campaign speeches. He is more on rhetoric speaker rather than have clear-cut policy can offer to the people.

With the Liberal Party (LP) scenario after post-election they belong to a minority government in both Houses of Congress would might have possible of “Hung Congress”, it need to begin rebalancing the political spectrum for gaining supports from both houses. Aquino government has to accept that he fell short of majority government. Team Aquino should do now thinking of coalition government to fill-up the control of the two houses. I think it is now for the LP to prove it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest of the republic. Unity government is necessary the only alternatives solution for Aquino government to succeed on his quest for change and reform governance.

 By this time Team Aquino should have the listing names of both re-elected and new elected Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen scouting for the possible political alliances of his administration setting aside partisan politics. What president-elect Noysoy should do now delegate his political team as lobbyist for special interest of his legislative agenda need a common supports from two houses, Ala President Barack Obama when he assume office at the White House. He appointed personal staff for special interest of both the White House and Capitol Hill, when he institute reform for American politics. No harm of copying other public policy when public interest at stake,  and if the purpose is for the general interest of the Filipino people, right minds will not object for any sounding proposal if for the good of all.

It is not denying facts Aquino administration will inherit a nation with a complex problems by the decade long  of Marxist underground movement, Muslim resistance, military unrest, corruption, violent crimes, political strife and the number one problem is to fight poverty over mix society from Batanes to Jolo Sulu. Without boldly and honest president to lead the nation by example you might be the same a lame duck president as your predecessor PGMA did of her Nine Years in Office at the end of your of term. Hope you don’t fail us 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

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