'Failure of elections' may yet come -- group

NEWS RELEASE
14 May 2010

It is no longer technically "failure of elections", since the election itself was conducted on May 10. Yet the failure of the electoral process - the legitimate succession of the country's leadership, as reflective of the people's will -- may yet come.

This was the opinion of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), one of the groups that warned the nation of possible failure of elections before May 10, as allegations of fraud and inconsistencies continue to file in from various camps.



"We don't wish it, and as everyone knows, we are all for the transfer of power from GMA to the next administration," said Carlito Badion, Kadamay vice chair. "And yet we also feel it is our duty to point out what everyone seems to gloss over. This is not a thoroughly successful election, as many would have us believe."

Badion cited the massive disenfranchisement of voters, which Comelec claims could go up to as much as 8 million, due largely to the long lines and packed polling centers. Vote-buying and electoral-related violence were present "just the same" as in pre-automation election years, and now the presidential candidates have come out alleging numerous irregularities.

The group also cited the recent Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) report saying that partylist votes were "bloated" by as much as 9 million.

What it boils down to, said the group, is that once the euphoria over the elections dies down, we may yet find that the "forces" most interested in fraud and subversion of the people's will -- namely, the Arroyo clique desperate to maintain its power and influence -- are still around.

"This is a challenge to Noynoy, who's ahead now in the presidential race," said Badion. "He should be the first person interested to investigate fraud and irregularities in this election. If he is truly anti-Arroyo, as he has postured during the campaign, he should work to stamp out all vestiges of the hated Arroyo regime, down to its trademarks of electoral fraud and manipulation. Even at his own expense.

"The real failure," said Badion, "is when we find that this election did not truly bring change to our people, as promised."##

Reference Carlito Badion, Vice Chair, Kadamay | 0939.387.3736
For further details, please contact Jon Vincent Marin, Kadamay  PIO | 0910.975.7660