Poll volunteers ink manifesto calling for clean, truthful elections‏

DAVAO CITY, Feb. 10 – At least 75 poll volunteers, including police and military officers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), signed a manifesto calling for clean, credible, peaceful, and truthful automated elections in May.

The manifest signing took place on Tuesday after the 3rd Election Summit organized by the Citizens Coalition for ARMM Elections (Citizens CARE), an ARMM poll monitor, was held at the Grand Regal Hotel here.

The participants, in the manifesto, said they are deeply alarmed by the proliferation of firearms and presence of undeputized armed persons in the communities despite the enforcement of a total gun ban.

“We are also equally concerned on the prevalence of political dynasties that are dominating our political system not only in Mindanao but also in the whole Philippine archipelago,” it stated.

To counter this, the group has called for the strengthening of security mechanisms on the so-called "election actors", including the voters, political candidates, and the election materials, most especially the ballots.

Also, the group said there is a need to strengthen voter’s education campaign in all sectors and establish military and police visibility in areas considered as election "watchlist" areas or "areas of concern."

In terms of securing the "election actors, the group has sought security assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. They also called on individuals and groups in communities to be vigilant and to report presence of unauthorized PNP/AFP personnel at the polling places.

In terms of securing the election materials, the group said the BEIs should be given full authority to be the key actors during election day with the support of PNP/AFP to ensure their security; establish security protocols for the BEIs; and disallow local officials to stay longer inside the precincts except to cast vote.

In terms of securing the political candidates, the group has called for the enforcement of prescribed Comelec guidelines on security escorts; recognition of Comelec accredited election citizens’ arm; enhance the role of election monitors; voter’s list should be published in Comelec website; and immediate action against election law violators.

The group also said there is a need to establish and strengthen structures such as AFP-PNP Joint Security Control Centers (JSCC); legal assistance groups such as Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE); and mechanisms for communication and reporting of election related offenses; and strengthen documentation on election violations.

The summit was organized by Citizens CARE through funding support from the Canadian Embassy.

The coalition was established in 2005 through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with technical assistance from the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES). (PNA) NYP/Malu C. Manar/utb

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