And when we say a camp that is scrounging into building a formidable presidential powerhouse for next years’ national polls, what easily comes to mind is the administration party rallying behind the joined forces of the new political party of Lakas-Kampi-CMD which is by the way the biggest political party in the country to date despite the recent defections.

So far, it is Sec. Gilbert Teodoro who has been chosen as their standard-bearer for the presidential post that had sidelined or forced some aspirants to leave the party like cry babies,  Bayani Fernando and Hermogenes Ebadane to new a few.

But up to now, the administration party is still looking for that person who will become Teodoro’s running mate for May 2010 to form a perfect winning tandem.   Despite the obvious vast war chest of the administration, the lack of a vice-presidentiable for their campaign up to this moment floats the obvious manifestation of the administration’s political disintegration and desperation.

Some politicians that are being eyed to become Gilbert Teodoro’s running mate are Sen. Bong Revilla, former Senator Tito Sotto, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and former Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano.  Though the administration party said it has been making talks with Sen. Loren Legarda, it did not really flourish as she is now rumored to be going to Villar’s side.

And so, though this may become some non-sense exercise on my part  or even an insult on some  anti-administration readers to take a poll on this issue for surely many of us if not most of us will not vote for the administration’s highest two candidates; I would still want to ask you guys about your opinion about the fate of Gibo Teodoro.

Who are you rooting to become Sec. Gilbert Teodoro’s running mate on the May 2010 national elections?  Your votes could help us give some glimpse into what is going into the mind of the electorate or readers and bloggers as to the administration’s rallying and standing for the Presidential race next year.

Image from Eleksyon.Co.Cc

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And while blog hopping (dropping entrecard credits, commenting on fave blogs and keeping myself updated with what’s hot, abuzz and latest sex scandals around the blogosphere) I always open my Facebook account on another window to check from time to time who are online posting their activities and flaunting that they have bought their BFFs for the whole world to see.  As I checked those friends and people who are online on FB chat, I saw Mr. James Jimenez on green light.  Wow, time to do some social-climbing, said I.

I sent him a “Hi!” and congratulated the COMELEC or Commission on Elections regarding the Supreme Court decision affirming the legality of the Automated Elections. And he immediately responded with “Thanks!” and “How are you doing?”  Wow!  This guy is cool, certainly a social media fanatic.  And there we had a great conversation about lots of stuffs especially with matters regarding the May 2010 elections and all the election concerns about such a big pivotal event in our nation.

May 2010 elections is only some months from now and with such event so big and instrumental for the present-day Filipinos comes the election concerns of the voting public with the remnants of election cheating and fraud still quite fresh on the consciousness of all except maybe to those who did it.  Hello Garci?   One most important feature of next year’s national polls is the use of the agency of the automated system of election that is being hoped for to bring a more honest and credible election together with a more convenient and efficient system.

That is why I took the great opportunity to do an online interview with Mr. James Jimenez, COMELEC’s official Spokesperson, sharing with him some election matters and issues.  Hopefully this interview could somewhat bring more information and understanding to voters.

Thank you very much Sir James for giving me the opportunity to interview you!

Elmot: The Supreme Court most recently handed down its decision affirming by a wide margin of majority vote the legality of the Automated Elections for 2010 plus all the pertinent issues raised regarding the Smartmatic-TIM deal as winning bidders.  What do you people at the COMELEC exactly feel about this decision?

Mr. Jimenez: We are thankful that the Court did not seek to substitute its own judgment for that of the COMELEC in this matter. As the Court pointed out, the COMELEC has the expertise and the mandate to deal with this sort of thing and, absent a clear showing of grave abuse of discretion, the COMELEC should be relied upon to do its job.

Elmot: There are still camps especially groups coming from the civil society who are appealing the decision and are not yet totally convinced that the system could not be hacked or infiltrated either from outside or from inside (Smartmatic having those access to the system) that send some doubts and fears to our voters.  How do you allay these fears and assure the voters of the efficiency and security of the system?

Mr. Jimenez: The best way to assure everyone is to show how verifiable the results generated by the automated election system will be. Because the results generated by the AES can very easily be verified by a hand count, there is very little incentive to cheat; and because the system is so transparent and the results are immediately reported to the general public, there is very little opportunity for cheating.

Elmot: There have been news of a great influx of groups seeking for partylist accreditation with some politicians branding some of these groups as not really representing a marginalized sector.  How does the COMELEC screen and evaluate these applications?

Mr. Jimenez: The screening of party-list organizations involves determining whether they truly represent a marginalized sector, and whether they have actually done so during their existence. We evaluate these claims by actually going into the field and conducting our own investigations into the history and background of the organization.

Elmot: It was raised that the COMELEC is on a very tight schedule and might run out of time that could result to some problems especially with the preparations and training of personnel for the new system.  On what stage is the COMELEC exactly right now and will it meet its deadlines and target dates?

Mr. Jimenez: The COMELEC will meet its deadlines. Right now, we are completing the site survey – that’s where we check all the 80,136 polling precinct sites to determine their suitableness. At the same time, we are well into the source code review being undertaken in partnership with an international certification authority. Also in parallel to these two major activities, we are preparing the legal framework of the elections and procuring election supplies.

Elmot: In line with training, organizations of teachers are saying that they are afraid that they may not be well-trained with the use of the new system for the upcoming elections.  What is the COMELEC’s program as regards to the training of teachers and people who will be manning the elections at the precinct levels?

Mr. Jimenez: The machines are easy to operate. I can write down the instructions on a single post-it sheet. Fear of the unknown and unfamiliar is a common reaction. Fortunately, those who are afraid soon see that there is nothing to fear.

Elmot: One of the biggest issue when it comes to elections is cheating especially the sensitive issue of the Garci Scandal.  What efforts are the commission doing to ensure that the previous election scandal/would never again occur?

Mr. Jimenez: Automation is the best defense against dagdag-bawas of the sort that Garci was accused of.

Elmot: From the COMELEC’s end, what are the responsibilities of voters aside from practicing their right to vote to ensure a clean and honest election come May 2010?

Mr. Jimenez: Vigilance. Do not only be a good voter, help keep others honest also. Don’t sell your vote, and tell others not to sell theirs.

Elmot: On a lighter note.  You are one of a few public officials who is very active and engaging in the social networks especially Facebook.  How has the social media helped you as a public servant and the programs and efforts of the COMELEC?

Mr. Jimenez: Social media is a critical element of our campaign to reach out to voters. It enables us to connect with the general public in a forum that they are comfortable with. It breaks down old barriers of formality and protocol, allowing a more candid and fruitful exchange of ideas.

Elmot:  Any last words of assurance and encouragement to all readers and voters who are obviously very vigilant as to the developments to participate on the upcoming national polls?

Mr. Jimenez: Do not waver in your commitment to seeing a truly automated 2010 elections. It will not be an easy transition, but it will be worth it.

How about you guys?  Any election concerns and issues that you want to raise especially to the COMELEC?  Do you put your trust that with this automated election for May 2010, election cheating and fraud could be effectively prevented from happening?

Image from Bagong Botante

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Around 8:00 AM at Club Filipino, Noynoy Aquino for President has taken off as he officially announced his presidential candidacy 40 days after the death of Former President Corazon Aquino, without naming yet his choice of a Vice-President.

From the coverage of Inquirer.Net, Noynoy Aquino declared:

“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan (I accept the voice of the people. I accept the advice of my parents. I accept the responsibility to continue the fight of the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections).”

Many of us had already seen it coming and the political tide has instantly been tremendously transformed with the Senators confirmatory words.

This is obviously a welcome political development.  But from those politicians, who had declared their willingness to serve the nation and set aside all their personal interests, they have the heavy responsibility to show us their platform of governance and in return all the citizens have the basic right to ask for a clear direction that these presidentiables are planning to lead us to.

This is part and parcel of the challenge for a genuine change we are dreaming of for our nation; critical analysis of everything that is being offered on our plate before taking a bite and an active participation of discernment in order to come up with a right decision and in the end all of us will learn the lesson of political and national responsibility.

I am personally glad that Sen. Noynoy joined the fray for it will certainly bring about a more dynamic political milieu; those overconfident will have something to rethink about and all those alliances and political strongholds will be stirred from status quo.

But what I will be immediately expecting from him as a voter and as citizen in the coming days and months is a clear platform of governance and sets of policies and directions that he is planning to implement once elected as our next president:  his stand on issues like climate change and the environment, corruption, education, charter change, peace in Mindanao and GMA’s accountability for all her excesses.  Something to invalid all the claims of the other camps, that he is a politician with not much accomplishment during his long stint in the Congress.  And something that could lift up his status as a man of himself.

This expectation is not only expected from Noynoy Aquino but for all presidentiables.  But with the tide of sentiments and hope of nation seemingly all thrown out at Noynoy’s shoulders, much more is obviously expected from him.

As PinoyGossipBoy commented:  “The “messiah” has declared his presidential bid.”

Let us see and expect from him his plan of salvific action. Let him try to convince me.

What is your opinion of Sen. Noynoy Aquino for President? Anything that you are expecting particularly from Noynoy Aquino?

Image from Farm4

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