Published May 22nd, 2007
A look at the election outcome in some of the political turfs would show whether the geopolitical balance of power has changed without necessarily shaking the infrastructures of political dynasties in those areas.
By the Policy Study, Publication and Advocacy (PSPA)
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
May 21, 2007
One of the biggest gainers in the May 14 mid-term elections is the Macapagal-Arroyo political clan, now headed by incumbent President Gloria M. Arroyo. With two sons of Mrs. Arroyo winning House seats – Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (1st District, Camarines Sur) and reelectionist Rep. Mikey Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) – and reelectionist Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, a brother-in-law, regaining his seat (5th District, Negros Occidental), the Macapagal-Arroyo clan expands the political dynasty began by patriarch Diosdado Macapagal who was elected to Congress in 1949. Diosdado eventually became the country’s fifth President in 1961. Ignacio Arroyo is reportedly being groomed to succeed House Speaker Jose de Venecia who has also clinched his reelection bid (4th District, Pangasinan).
The clan of Macapagal-Arroyo has been in power for 58 years, broken only by the Marcos dictatorship. Even if the clan has spun out its political presence in Camarines Sur and Negros, it has a lot of damage control coming up what with the province of Pampanga - considered Mrs. Arroyo’s bailiwick and father Diosdado’s birthplace - going to a new governor, Fr. Ed Panlilio. “Among Ed” Panlilio, the first Catholic priest elected in government, won by a small margin over Lilia Pineda and incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid, both Arroyo allies. Pineda is married to Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, alleged to be a top jueteng (illegal numbers game) lord.
Votes in nearly 50 of the country’s 80 provincial posts have been counted along with those cast in many House district races. Many of the winners, including mayoralty candidates, have been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Partial results of the elections show reigning political dynasties still well-entrenched, a few of them trounced but only to be replaced by new political clans while others have kept their fiefdoms with even more elective posts taken.
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Published May 21st, 2007
E.T. Suarez
Manila Bulletin
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will not entertain any petition for suspension of the proclamation of a candidate on the ground that he is disqualified because he is not a Filipino citizen or lacks residency requirement in the place where he was a candidate.
Comelec Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. said citizenship and residency requirement are issues which can be invoked even if the candidate was already proclaimed and eventually assumed the position in which he was elected.
Abalos said if it is proven later on that the official concerned is not a Filipino citizen or failed to meet the residency requirement, he can be ousted from the post he is occupying.
“Let us respect the will of the people in the meantime,” Abalos said.
He added, however, that petitions for declaration of failure of elections, illegal proceedings and unlawful composition of the Board of Canvassers (BoC) will be entertained.
“Theses issues have to be addressed expeditiously because they involve the right of the people to elect their public officials,” Abalos said.
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Published May 21st, 2007
Alecks P. Pabico
PCIJ
News from 2 days ago …
Robredo, entire winning slate finally proclaimed | May 19, 2007
SHORTLY before 1 o’clock this morning, the Commission on Elections finally proclaimed Mayor Jesse Robredo and his Liberal Party slate as winners in the local elections in Naga City.
This came after a delay in the proclamation, which also saw the deployment of three truckloads of anti-riot policemen carrying long firearms at the Naga City Hall late night yesterday, due to a petition filed by losing mayoralty bet Jojo Villafuerte. The petition had asked the board of canvassers (BOC) to postpone proclaiming Robredo pending the resolution by the poll body of the disqualification case questioning his citizenship.
But Comelec registrar Maico Julia argued that Villafuerte’s disqualification case against Robredo is not a pre-proclamation issue, and as such the BOC has no jurisdiction over it.
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