Leyte Samar Daily Express
By Alvin Godinez Arpon
This OBSERVER is quite lucky to have been shared a copy of IMPACT an Asian magazine for Human Transformation through Education, Social Advocacy and Evangelization. In their October 2012 issue they focused on the “success” of the 2010 automated elections.
Surprisingly of some 15 feature articles about, yes, automated elections, of marriages, Pastoral letter on the year of faith, just and lasting peace in – Mindanao, Party Lists issues, 2 issues where discussed relative to automation: “The Biliran case” and “A people’s Response to the Biliran hitch”. These are all about the alleged questionable results in that Glenn Chong- Roger Espina electoral contest for the lone Congressional seat of Biliran. The latter sits in the congressional seat of Biliran at present.
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From a very reliable source practically many electoral protests filed with the HRET tribunal have been decided upon already or simply dismissed and only 2 or three remains to be heard. After over 2 years of hearings, the electoral protest case filed by Atty. Glenn C. Chong remains one of those left unresolved and awaits a final decision.
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Flashback: When the result of the May 2010 elections was officially announced, the first ever rally of an electoral protest which was participated in by some 4,000 (150,000 Biliran population) was held in front of the capitol of the capital town of Naval, according to an earlier report made by the Center for People Empowerment and Governnace (CENPEG) “in its project 30-30, a European Union funded research project. It documented the alleged “failure” of the SMARTMATIC 2010 Automated Elections System (AES)”, report in various parts of the country, including Biliran. CENPEG conducted an investigation of the alleged checking in Biliran weeks after the 2010 election.
The “Biliran Case” of the recently released article in the IMPACT magazine wrote a detailed account how the alleged modes to frustrate the choice of the people was done. It is a detailed report.
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An unconfirmed report was received by the OBSERVER that concerned Board of Election Inspectors in contested areas in Biliran literally were literally in tears aware probably of the fate to their professions, (teachers) if charges will be filed against them as suggested by knowledgeable quarters in the HRET if finally proven they have participated in the alleged electoral cheating. This happened after they were “grilled” during one of the hearings.
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Since this is just the few only election protest that is being heard at the House of Representative Election Tribunal, it is possible that this can be resolved before the 2013 elections, many believe.