The Impunity of the Pro-Noynoy SWS Survey

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HOW is it possible that, no matter that the current occupant in Malacanang is the son of Mama Cory and Papa Ninoy, he was able to get an amazing 88% trust rating amidst the HOCUS PCOS brand of poll fraud hoopla? According to the Social Weather Stations, Noynoy Aquino got "88% of adult Filipinos have much trust and 4% have little trust in Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, for a very good net trust rating of +83." Why, that's even much higher than the peak satisfaction ratings of former President Corazon Aquino at around 72%, and Joseph Estrada who got 67% at his best rating. It is so unbelievable how Noynoy, a zero-zero-bill solon from Congress to Senate and thus, virtually with no public service achievement whatsoever, be able to top the survey ratings of the two former Presidents.

Consider that the late President Aquino came out of the euphoria of the 1986 EDSA "People Power" Revolution while President Erap won with the highest plurality margin in Philippine history. And below 80% and 70% were all they got. Consider as well that Noynoy has a host of issues a thousand times worse than his mother had when she first assumed the presidency. Just about the only criticism the pro-Marcos camp was well able to hurl at Cory was her "plain housewife" naivety, which was not to say that was uneducated because she did graduate with a degree in French. Noynoy, on the other hand, was beset with a host of unpalatable issues: SCTEx corruption, Hacienda Luisita massacre and failure to implement land reform, his 2005 vote against the playing of the "Hello Garci" wiretapped evidence of the 2004 poll fraud, and 'abnormal mind' issues.


Autistic

The abnormal or autistic issue was particularly nasty and dogs him to this day. The camp of presidential candidate Manny Villar played a good part in exposing it but the Nacionalista Party was definitely not alone in making it a huge electoral issue. There have been whispers of the supposed abnormal or "abnoy" state of Noynoy, with The Daily Tribune's Demaree J. B. Raval advising the Liberal Party to stop making "a limp denial of the autism issue" as early as February this year.

When it became a full-blow issue several weeks later, no thanks to Villar, the issue sounded credible to many Filipinos because, after all, autism seems to run in the Aquino family as evidenced by Noynoy's nephew by sister Kris Aquino. So shocking, or nasty, were the abnoy stories that filled not the mainstream yellow media but the alternate media, such as the internet and SMS messaging, aside from the usual word-of-mouth whispers. Essentially, the stories included talks of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino having brought his son to a psychiatrist in Boston; that Noynoy sought psychiatric help somewhere in Ateneo; and that he smokes marijuana, a supposed cure for autism. Nastier, detailed stories, such as one narrated in a video, tell of his supposed fits and weird behavior in Ateneo that included his hiding behind stacks of books not in the library but in the cafeteria and loudly ordering fellow students to keep quiet.

However, amidst the publicly made pressures for him to show his saneness or psychological capacity to seek the presidency, he had inexplicably and adamantly refused to undergo psychological testing --while virtually all the rest of the presidentiables were willing. The result is that a good number of people tag Noynoy as psychologically challenged. Noynoy's state of mind is such a hot item that the issue is all over the internet even up to this day.

I did a quick Google search with the key words [abnoy "noynoy aquino"] around two weeks ago and came up with 57,600 hits. I did the same with an English variant, [abnormal "noynoy aquino] and got 14,100 page results. Today, I decided to Google the same words and guess what? There's INCREASED interest, with the first key phrase earning an estimated 65,700 hits, representing around 14% increase; and for [abnormal "noynoy aquino], got 16,800, which reflects around 19% greater interest in the issue. Additionally, I also Google searched [autistic "noynoy aquino"] and came up with about 20,200 results.

In short, Noynoy's stubborn refusal to prove his mental health by not undergoing psychological test appears to have rendered him mentally challenged by default in the eyes of many. This means that no matter that a pro-Cory euphoria supposedly hit the Filipinos when she died in August last year, the event could not have sustained a sentiment favorable towards trusting Noynoy, the good-for-nothing-solon son of Cory.

In fact, it remains doubtful that the pro-Cory euphoria even effectively translated into an electoral vote for the psychologically-challenged-by-default son. Take note that Noynoy run against, among others, the still very popular Erap Estrada to whom Cory apologized in December 2009 for her role in the 2001 EDSA. In apparent respect and gratitude, Erap called on his legions of masa supporters to show respect for Cory when the latter died. Who's to exactly tell then that the Cory sympathizers following her death even liked Noynoy? I myself was in Cory's funeral but there was no way I voted Noynoy last presidential elections.


Improbable Statistics

I've warned of cheating prior to the May 10, 2010 elections because based on the Illegitimate President' shistory and litany of corruption scandals, it would be impossible for her to step down without a an evil scheme for self-presevation or self-interest. It would be natural of Arrobo to seek and forge an unholy deal with a ‘friendly’ presidentiable who would look after her when she steps down. Of the three candidates known or rumored to be the Illegitimate President's bet, I suspected it would be the obvious, administration candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro. I was wrong.

Initially described as "refreshing" in terms of the speed of results, and even "orderly and honest" by the yellow media, the unraveling of what has been described as "automated Garci," in reference to the 2004 presidential poll fraud will begin with the gross mismatch between field pulse and AES statistics Comele gave to the "defeated" presidential candidates. Later on, the sheer statistical improbability of votes received by the presidentiables, losing and "winning," will strike the mind.

Without even considering the AES technicalities and legalities, it was actually the highly improbable election statistics given by Comelec triggered the initial suspicions that something was woefully not right with the automated polls. De los Reyes well illustrates this when he retracted his early concession to Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III upon learning that he only got a measly 11,894 votes in his hometown of Nasugbu, Batangas and a statistically impossible national total of some 44,240 votes. He says his hometown votes was "Too small even, considering the excitement my candidacy generated; [when] everyone get out to campaign."

On my part, how it dawned on me that the Filipino electorate had been conned by Gloria Arroyo's government into accepting a fraudulent AES "winner" was when early broadcast results on the night of May 10, 2010 showed Joseph Erap Estrada impossibly behind Aquino in the former's bailiwicks of TONDO and SAN JUAN CITY in Manila. It was beyond any objective comprehension how the deposed President could possibly lose in those areas that have through the years consistently been solid, if not die-hard, Erap turfs.

Sea of Masses in Tondo, Manila. And Erap lost to Noynoy???

When what is on the ground and compromised automation does not match, which do you believe? Pictures and actual sight of warm bodies say a thousand words and the "di malaglagan ng karayom" character of Estrada's rallies in the said spots, as in a good number of Pwersa ng Masa rallies and motorcades elsewhere in the country, defy the HOCUS PCOS results. Snapshots of rallies show the strength of some of the candidates and betray the apparent falsity of the Comelec figures.

In the case of Bro. Eddie's party, supporters early on claimed "under oath that in the precincts where they voted, the election results show a much lesser number of votes obtained by Bangon Pilipinas candidates than the actual number of votes cast in their favor." Moreover, the total votes the evangelist supposedly received was only 1.26 million votes. This, when during the Bangon Pilipinas Youth Rally in Luneta, crowd estimate was already placed at 1.2 million.

Bangon Pilipinas Youth Rally:. Crowd estimate, around 1.2M.
Bro. Eddie only got 1.26M total votes NATIONWIDE?

Simply Impossible

In a number of clustered precincts in Montalban, Rizal, the AES gave amazing results. Therein, Aquino generally got more or less 99.9% of all votes, with all the other presidentiables registering ZERO votes, with the DISQUALIFIED candidate, Acosta, garnering 2 or so votes.

There were also many clustered precincts in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte and Gutalac where disqualified candidate Acosta received more votes than the other more popular candidates, including Estrada whom the Comelec says placed 2nd place to Aquino.

The incredible, statistically improbable pattern of Noynoy Aquino practically garnering all votes, with most of the other candidates even getting zero, is repeated in many clustered precincts in Sultan Kudarat. While there were precincts where Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Villar was able to get double digit votes, it was more a case of single digit, if not zero for him and all the other candidates, including Estrada and supposed administration candidate Teodoro.

Moreover, there were even instances when, similar to the Montalban areas, disqualified candidate Acosta got 1 or 2 votes while others like Erap and Madrigal got ZERO again. Madrigal, the feisty and nationalist-inclined former lawmaker, it should be noted, placed fourth during the 2004 senatorial elections, garnering some 13M votes. So amazingly unbelievable is the presidential tally in the Philippines' first automated polls, with Acosta receiving more votes than the combined figures of Madrigal, Perlas, and de los Reyes in the final AES nationwide tally.

Perlas, Madrial & de los Reyes

HOCUS PCOS Reports

Which brings us to the most serious issue against Noynoy's "presidency"--the credibility and legitimacy of the 2010 automated elections and, therefore, whether he has the mandate at all to occupy Malacanang.

Apart from the considerations of AES technicalities, perhaps the most convincing argument to believe that poll fraud did occur in the recent polls is the fact that the most beprincipled and most result-disinterested of the presidential candidates have cried HOCUS PCOS cheating and, moreover, embarked on a campaign to unmask the truth of the May 2010 elections. I refer to Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Mr. Nikki Perlas and Councilor Jc de los Reyes. These three honorable candidates have expressly admitted several times that they already consider themselves losers in the elections; yet, they are active in the campaign to inform the public of the illegality and failure of the AES that the Commission on Elections implemented.

That is not to say that Bro. Eddie Villanueva, who is also part of the MIGHT e2010 coalition of 'truth seekers,' is not equally highly principled and even moral. However, because he has been described by some to be the real second-placer in the 2004 polls to FERNANDO POE JR, and NOT Gloria Arroyo, the former could have a greater interest in the results of the recent presidential race.

As for the technicalities of the AES, the evidence indicative of poll fraud is overwhelming. As the Global Pinoy Online News Crisis of Sovereignty series says, the fraud is but commonsensical. The separate reports of the Peoples' International Observers Mission*, the independent body of GFN 2010 Election Observers Team of Global Filipino Nation (GFN), a non-partisan international organization of offshore and onshore Filipinos, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel's statement on "his vote on the proclamation of the newly-elected President and Vice President at the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa on June 9, 2010."

PIOM Report

The Peoples' International Observers Mission—foreign delegates made up of academicians, lawyers, law students, journalists, social workers, union organizers, church workers--came to the country as poll observers. They documented specific fraud and violence cases in some of the country’s hot spot areas during the polls and are reported to have been 'shocked by fraud, irregularities, and violence.' Radhika Sainath from the United States said that "In 10 years of monitoring elections, I've never seen this level of irregularities and fraud that I witnessed on Monday."


GFN Report

The independent body of GFN foreign observers--foreign delegates made up of academicians, lawyers, law students, journalists, social workers, union organizers, church workers--also documented specific fraud and violence cases in some of the country’s hot spot areas during the polls. This group came up with a more comprehensive and in-depth report.

I. The election results transmitted from the precincts do not have digital signatures of the board of election inspectors.
II. The number of disenfranchised voters is sufficient to affect greatly the results of the elections.
III. The automated election system (AES) was implemented live without the appropriate field testing, and law-specified testing in actual elections.
IV. The source code review was not completed and initial findings were not addressed.
V. No audit was done on the AES prior to the elections. There was only a mandated random manual audit that, up to this writing, has not been completed.
VI. Several voter and security features were disabled prior to the elections.


Pimentel's Explanation

Even Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, who gave his "yes" vote to the June 9, 2010 proclamation of Noynoy Aquino as "President," faulted the automated polls for leaving "a long trail of deficiencies... [which] were mostly directly machine-generated, but, at least, on one occasion, the shortcoming was specifically man-made." He added a list of missteps taken by Comelec and/or Smartmatic. The former senator regrets the following points:

1) Denial of right to know whether ballot cast was counted

The AES system last May 10, 2010 gave voters no way of knowing whether

the PCOS counted their ballots. The paper trail that the Comelec earlier promised the lawmakers did not materialize.

2) Wrong dates recorded on the certificates of canvass

The wrong time and date stamped on some Election Returns (ERs) form a tell-tale sign of possible tampering or "that something was grievously wrong" with the PCOS machines that electronically tallied and transmitted the votes to the Joint Congressional National Canvass Center

(3) On-off sensors, clearly "something was basically wrong" with certain PCOS machines

Investigation of a compact flash (CF) card of Quezon City congresswoman Annie Susano revealed the on-and-off switching of the sensors, the devices that read the ballots during processing by the PCOS machines. In simple terms, the on-off switching indicates that "some votes were counted some of the time, while others were not counted most of the time."

4) Egregious error in the Initialization Message

Meant to alert the Senate that the server in its custody could already be activated, the initialization message "had a most glaring blunder," recording the Philippine voting population at 256,733,195 or about five times more than the true figure of 51 million. Pimentel expressed bewilderment at the use of the "factor of 'five'" by the PCOS, aggravated by the "unintelligible" explanation made by Cesar Flores, the Venezuelan Smartmatic official, during the Congressional hearing.

5) Flawed Certification of the PCOS machines

The certification issued by Comelec's Technical Evaluation Committee, which was basically based on the certification of the U.S.-based Systems Lab, Inc., called for the installation of 'compensating control' devices. Unfortunately, the compensating controls that were supposed to enable a 99.995% accuracy for the PCOS machine's were not installed, said the Philippine Computer Society.

6) Arbitrary removal of security safeguards

That the canvass reports transmitted from cities and provinces were no longer accompanied by digital signatures made the determination of the COCs' due execution and authenticity by the National Canvassing Board difficult.

7) Non-use or disabling of Ultra Violet lamps

The UV lamps in the PCOS machines were meant to spot spurious ballots even before they can be inserted into the machines but the Comelec disabled this feature. Apparently, this led to the procurement of portable UV lamps to the tune of P30 million; despite the huge cost, however, Comelec did not make its use obligatory, largely leading to its non-use.

8) Relaxation of original intent for mandatory UV ink use

RA 9369, or the law authorizing AES elections, requires the use of necessary safeguards to prevent spurious ballots. In an automated electoral system, the equivalent safeguard would be like the use of UV ink complemented by the UV reader in the PCOS machine. Thus, the disengagement of the UV lamps in the PCOS effected the high probability "that fake ballots were manufactured and used fraudulently and scrupulously is high."

9) Non-Audit of CF Cards

The Comelec was supposed to conduct manual audit for the positions of president, vice-president, congress member, governor, and mayor but failed to do so. This casts doubts on Comelec's sincerity and the automated polls' accuracy.

10) Non-compliance with "ladderized system" of transmission leading to legally infirm 'unofficial' results

The transmission of results is supposed to emanate from the a) PCOS in the precincts to the municipality/city consolidation and canvassing servers or MCCS;, then b)from the MCCS to the provincial/district consolidation and canvassing servers or PCCS; and c) from the PCCS to the servers of Comelec and Congressional National boards of Canvasser. This ladderized system was not followed, leading to improper consolidation of transmitted results at the election return (ER) level, from which the Comelec and PPCRV where surprisingly able to make their quick counts.



Final Forensic Report of Joint Canvassing Committee

Even the final forensic report of the Joint Congressional Canvassing Board on the PCOS machines inappropriately housed in the residence of a Smartmatic technician officially found defects and serious anomalies. The report's main points are: (1) the mismatch between the Comelec-published and the extracted hash codes; (2) absence of digital certificates in the PCOS contrary to Smartmatic's claim; the (3) the alarming presence of a secret "backdoor" to easily control PCOS operations; and (4) the CF cards in possession of Rep. Susano are authentic and duly issued by the polls body.

The authentication of Susano’s CF cards in a way validates Sen. Pimentel's report pointing to the defective ballot-reading sensors in at least a number of CF cards. As well, it also indicates the poll body's inability--deliberate or otherwise--to secure all its duly-issued CF cards. Together with the discovery of a backdoor control, absence of digital signature equivalent in the PCOS machines, and mismatched hash codes, the joint forensic report by itself already points to a very insecure AES system, even indicating a possible collusion between Comelec and Smartmatic.

The Bald Eagle link to the HOCUS PCOS (?) "President" P-noy

Mind Boggling, but More

How mind-boggling that despite all these reports, Comelec seems to have gotten away with putting up an AES that is fundamentally defective and apparently designed to be fraudulent. It does not stop with the above four reports, however. News stories by local, non-mainstream media provide more evidence to the desecration of the people's will last May 10.

The Daily Tribune reports on the day after elections that: "In Angono, Rizal, amid reports of massive vote buying, voters will (sic) surprised to find out that in the ballots given to them, the name of the LP standard-bearer, Aquino had been already shaded." The massive disenfranchisement report by GFN is given real-life by color by the news report of how drivers eager to vote for their bets were disheartened by the demand of bus operators for drivers and transport workers not to miss even one minute of last May 10, despite the fact that Election Day was a declared a holiday. The disenfranchisement is most notable because it seems to have targeted the masa group given other reports of the names of registered squatters having been stricken off Comelec list.

An important revelation is reported by Pinoy Global Online News on the PCOS software in escrow with the Central Bank. In its interview of Nelson Celis, President of the Philippine Computer Society that assisted the IT Teams of the House, Senate and Comelec in the forensic investigation on the PCOS machines in Antipolo, the PCOS machines run programs that do not correspond to the official program in the Central Bank.

The real "secret candidate" (?) shakes hands with the Ilegitimate

“Unelected and Illegal Government”

Perlas' scathing June 30, 2010 report entitled "Unelected and Illegal Government" sums up the evidence in the elite conspiracy for the May 10, 2010 massive fraud. He says that the subversion of Philippine democracy in the country's first automated poll fraud "dwarfs the manual cheating done by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner “Garci” in the 2004 presidential elections. He cites the many legal violations committed by the poll body, such as the dismantling of the PCOS UV security system; removal of the Voter Verification feature that should have presented a list verifying one's vote; absence of the public examination of the PCOS source code; Re-configuration of Compact Flash (CF) cards without proper oversight; and lack of clear accountability and inventory of millions of unused ballots.

He also cites highly suspicious activities conducted by Comelec, including the quiet sending of a total of 1600 CF cards and 160 "burners" that can give fraud operators the needed tools to tamper with poll results. Perlas also sketches the apparent modus operandi of fraud, based in part on Committee hearings, which are: the pre-programming of primary CF cards; pre-shading of ballots; interception of transmission; and collusion between Comelec officials and Smartmatic Technicians.

Interestingly, Perlas also explains the role of yellow media and fabricated surveys in conditioning the people into expecting "certain candidates to win." The mainstream media, including ABS CBN, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and even, GMA7 reinforce this fabricated ideas through their lopsided and brainwashing reports. Even the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) acted not as watchdog for the public but, rather, for the Comelec.

The defeated but beprincipled candidate also points to the legal transgressions committed by Congress owing to its inability to question the massive automated poll fraud. Worse, Congress took part in the crime by (1) failing to convene only a Joint Committee, instead of a Joint Session, to canvass the presidential and vice-presidential votes, and (2) canvassing electoral returns that contained no digital signatures. He asserts that the May 10 polls were actually invalid and void from the start, given the process's wanton violations of the law.

Sison's Pinky, Gloria and CIA Expose

There is more. A most explosive revelation from an unexpected source was yet to come. On June 7, 2010, Pinoy Weekly Online came out with an interview of Jose Maria Sison, consultant and former head of the National Democratic Front. Therein, Sison charged that the recent automated electoral exercise was rigged, with the poll "victory" of Noynoy Aquino already a done deal. He pointed to the collusion of the imperialist United States of America, Arroyo, and Pinky Aquino-Abellada, an elder sister of Noynoy, which was forged in a meeting held six weeks before the elections.

Pinky colluded w/ Gloria & CIA, says Sison

As expected, Pinky and the Aquino family denied the charge. What is worth noting is that the revelation came from someone the Yellows —the Aquino and the Arroyo families, among others-- were in tactical alliance with during the 2001 ouster of Estrada. The Arroyos and Aquinos cannot possibly just dismiss Sison as opportunist or what because they were unholy allies there in the undemocratic EDSA 2 coup against a genuinely elected and sitting President.


Desecrating Survey Research... in the name of the Yellows

So, therefore, to reiterate the highly unamusing bewilderment: how could a zero-accomplishment former congressman and senator plagued with HOCUS PCOS and abnoy/austistic labels, with no mass base of his own and who ranked only sixth out of 12 seats in the 2007 senatorial polls, possibly earn the trust of a whooping 88% of the electorate? Where did the SWS draw the simply astonishing survey results? From a HOCUS PCOS survey counterpart system?

Prof. Felipe Miranda

I remember how I was sort of academically introduced into revering survey studies. Back in my college days at the University of the Philippines, I briefly attended a political science class of Prof. Felipe Miranda, now with Pulse Asia but said to be still a director of SWS. He discussed with near academic reverence the survey research process, ending it with the calling that 'next time [we] come across a survey study, we should hold it close to our heart' or something. Those words led me to revere poll studies for a long time as a science, as a tool to scientifically and honestly gauge public opinion. For a decade or so. Until the 2004 presidential polls.

In March of this year, ex-Sen. Francisco Kit Tatad reposted a 2004 article where he reveals how SWS and ABS-CBN screwed public perception of the presidential poll count by selecting Quick Count areas where Arroyo is strong and bypassing more those where the later Fernando Poe Jr. held sway. The devious intent was to set a trend that matched the SWS exit survey which showed Arroyo as the electoral choice of Filipinos. In other words, the geographic distribution of the Quick Count was increased for Visayas, where Arroyo was leading, and decreased for the rest (National Capital Region, Luzon, and Mindanao).

Dr. Mahar Mangahas, SWS

The 2004 SWS pre-electoral survey at the national level and the exit poll for NCR both indicated Arroyo won. As official results later showed, Fernando Poe Jr. won in NCR but lost in the nationwide count. Apparently, SWS at least got its national figures right, with Arroyo having been proclaimed "President-elect" and later officially by Congress. However, the 2005 "Hello Garci" expose showing wiretapped evidence of Arroyo's collusion with Comelec and military and, indirectly, even congressional officials to manipulate the 2004 poll results effectively belie the accuracy of the SWS survey. Everyone now knows that FPJ was the rightful victor of the 2004 elections; Arroyo just cheated him. And so SWS was dead wrong on the presidential race. Wonder if SWS actually manipulated the results to make the Illegitimate appear winnable, not expecting the future Hello Garci expose on the Maguindanao portion of the ballot....

Former Sen. Madrigal has dubbed the May 10, 2010 elections as "automated Garci." Given the uncanny association, if not collusion, between the Arroyo government's holding of fraud-laden electoral exercises and survey firms, and amidst the anomalous, HOCUS-PCOS-indicative May 2010 AES, are we silly to simply accept the incredibly high 88% trust rating of Noynoy?

According to Perlas, the reason why he is not conceding despite his admission that he has lost his presidential bid is because he believes that the "accuracy and honesty of the country’s electoral process [lie at] the heart of the democratic exercise" and that "If there is to be a President in this country, he or she has to have the true mandate of the Filipino people." Noynoy Aquino, the possibly psychologically challenged, SCTEx- and Nantes-explosion-sullied, and definitively unaccomplished solon son of Ninoy and Cory does not even seem to have the genuine mandate of the Filipinos. How could he possibly have an 88% trust rating then?

This fellow got 88% trust rating? Hindi nga, SWS?

If Cory, the mother, referred to by some as the "democracy icon" can only get 60% trust rating a few weeks before she died, how impossible and illogical is it for her incompetent solon of a son, who also happens to be dogged by serious mental health, corruption and even narco-politics issues, possibly score a much, much higher trust rating? Even if, for the sake of argument, the abnoy and HOCUS PCOS issues are stricken off him, it doesn't make sense that the presumed transfer of Cory's 60% trust ratings even gained 12% upon reaching Noynoy. Remember that the current yellow occupant of Malacanang scored zero accomplishment as congressman and senator; moreover he was definitely not considered of presidential timbre prior to his mother's death. What did SWS give the Filipino public this time? Another case of yellow impunity? A case of automated HOCUS PCOS SWS survey?

__________


References

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Bangon Pilipinas Press Release on Election Irregularities. (Facebook). http://www.facebook.com/broeddiecvillanueva#!/broeddiecvillanueva?v=app_234747185

Crisis of Sovereignty Series 03 - Smoking Gun There Was No 2010 Election Whatsoever
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Crisis of Sovereignty Series 03 - Smoking Gun There Was No 2010 Election Whatsoever
http://www.filamimage.com/articles/2010_061710paglinawan.html

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Erap finds ally in NGO on poll fraud claim. 18 May 2010. http://ph.politicalarena.com/presidential-elections/news/erap-finds-ally-in-ngo-on-poll-fraud-claim

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Manalo, Charlie. "Noynoy pre-shaded ballots in Angono; Gibo wants poll desynchronization." The Daily Tribune. 11 May 2010. http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100511hed3.html

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Perlas, Nicanor. Unelected and Illegal Government. 1 July 2010. Nicanor Perlas Site. http://www.nicanor-perlas.com/News/unelected-and-illegal-government.html

Perlas, Nicanor. I am NOT conceding. 12 May 2010. http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages#!/nickyperlas?v=wall
Pinoy Weekly Staff. "Panayam kay Jose Maria Sison hinggil sa papasok na rehimeng Aquino." 7 June 2010. Pinoy Weekly Online. http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2010/06/panayam-kay-prop-jose-maria-sison-hinggil-sa-papasok-na-rehimeng-aquino/

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SWS: 60% of Filipinos trust Cory. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/10/09/sws-60-filipinos-trust-cory
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Something the Philippine Yellow Media not telling us about the 2010 Elections? (Part I). 16 May 2010. http://JesusaBernardo.newsvine.com/_news/2010/05/16/4290214-something-the-philippine-yellow-media-not-telling-us-about-the-2010-elections-part-i

Second Quarter 2010 Social Weather Survey: 88% have much trust in Noynoy Aquino, 77% for Jojo Binay; 53% say PNoy can fulfill a few of his campaign promises. 12 July 2010. http://www.sws.org.ph/pr20100712.htm

Tatad, Kit. How ABS-CBN and SWS misled the public on the poll count. 5 March 2010. http://kittatad.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/how-abs-cbn-and-sws-misled-the-public-on-the-poll-count-2/

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Photo credits



The Daily Tribune.

Newsvine.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1867892&id=97237194544&ref=mf

http://chubsphilippines.blogspot.com/2007/11/dr-mahar-mangahas.html

President Joseph Estrada--You ARE the Real May 10, 2010 Winner

(Repost of a June 9, 2010 BLOG by Taga-Ilog News article)

PRESIDENT Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada, you ARE the landslide winner. The YELLOW CHEAT with imperialist help from godless elites and the BALD EAGLE nation just prevailed.

Ang sakit po ng pag-bow n'yo sa mga Immoral, Unpatriotic, EDSA 3 Masa-Killing.Nantes-Killing, Hacienda-Luisita-Farmers-Killing Psychologically Challenged YELLOW CHEAT.

Since 2006, I've been fighting against EDSA 2 and the KANGAROO COURT Plunder case/decision in my personal blogging capacity. This election campaign, SOBRANG PUYAT ho ang inihandog ko sa inyo, to the point that I sacrificed earning time for my family. Moreover, I LAMENT the consequences of your decision for our dear motherland.

The 2001 EDSA 2 Power Grab, the May 2001 EDSA 3 bloody dispersal, the 2004 'Hello Garci' Electoral Fraud, the poll-rigging-related impunity that begot the Ampatuan massacre, and the May 10, 2010 Automated Electoral Cheating--they all need to be RECTIFIED. With you out of the Philippine political picture, these crimes will remain buried under the unholy ground of the godless yellows.

Mr. President, your decision to give in to the results of the fraudulent automated elections sends the most unfortunate signal that POLL FRAUD PAYS. The nation might as well adopt the motto" "May the best cheat wins." Trampling upon the true voice of the people is high crime and treason that should NOT be encouraged but, instead, be relentlessly punished.

I understand that the pressures from the wicked forces for you to give way to the YELLOW CHEAT must have been enormous. However, to bow to an electoral cheat, as the nation has done for the Illegitimate Arrobo the past nine years, is wrong, immoral, and  dangerous.  It will be a grievous mistake that will bring the country not to a road to recovery but, rather to a state of further decay.

Ang nanalong WALANG DANGAL, sa kasamaan ilulugmok ang bayan. Pinatunayaan iyan ng bastardong panguluhan ni Gloria Macapagal-Arrobo at muling mangyayari sa  kapwa  talikbang si Simeon Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.

It's never too late for GENUINE poll victors to reconsider. Mr. President Estrada, for the sake of our people, the future generations, please lead the nation in fighting for truth of the May 10, 2010 elections. Beyond, lead the nation to a more populist state till 2016.

In Search of the Truth of the May 10, 2010 Philippine Automated Elections

THE recent Philippine automated elections were held on May 10, 2010, the 113rd anniversary of the murder-by-execution of the "Father of Philippine Revolution," Andres Bonifacio. A month after, on June 19, the 149th anniversary of the birth of Jose Rizal, a coalition seeking mainly to "unravel the truth surrounding the May 2010 elections" held a seven-hour forum that explained the mechanics of the AES and its failure and showed the many blatant lies perpetrated by both the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Smartmatic-TIM. Could the apparent historical coincidences timed with important days associated with the country's two national heroes forebode of the ultimate revelation of what really happened during the Filipinos' first experience with automated polls?

       June 19, Jose Rizal B-day          -    May 10, Andres Bonifacio's Death
(2010 Coincidences w/ National Heroes' Significant Dates)

The MIGHT e2010 (Movement for Integrity in Governance and Honesty and Truth in the May 2010 Elections) forum also presented surprise witness Jonathan Manalang, the Operations Director of the technical support center of Smartmatic. Manalang, whose testimony before the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms was cut short by Makati Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin made some rather surprising revelations about the AES elections. He revealed that there was a  "superserver" located in Antel Building in Quezon which Smartmatic lied about and that excess PCOS machines were delivered to certain areas.


Illegality?

The resource persons also pointed to the glaring illegality of the automated polls. Election lawyer Araold Bayobay listed the actions and decisions committed by no less than Comelec itself in clear violation of the Poll Automation Law. Former Assemblyman Homobono severely criticized congress for its the proclamation of now-"President-elect" Noynoy Aquino despite the absence of a quorum, which he says is blatant violation of due process and the 1987 Philippine Constitution.


Conspiracy of Cheating?

Former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza and Atty. Arnold Bayobay categorically spoke of cheating at both the local and national levels. Adaza referred to documents showing the nationwide pattern of improbable zero vote results. Suspiciously, the joint congressional oversight committee on automated elections or JCOC-AE has refused to investigate the glaring anomaly.

Striking evidence of apparent fraud at the presidential level was also shown. Bayobay presented election returns from a precinct in Pampanga that showed former President Joseph Estrada as the winner, followed by Sen. Manuel Villar and now-"President-elect" Noynoy Aquino trailing as third. However, he says that the transmitted report reflected Aquino as the winner. 

Where Did Our Votes Go? forum on the truth of the Philippine

Mainstream Media Co-Optation?

The collusion of mainstream media to failure and probable cheating in the polls was also questioned. Manalang also testified to how at one point, the media was reporting on the supposed transmission Of 50 percent of the Certificates of Canvass or COC despite the fact that only 20 percent transmission was reflected in the headquarters of Smartmatic-TIM. Presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas had earlier wondered where the excess media-reported votes were coming from.

The group as a whole criticized the mainstream media for "conspiring" with both Smartmatic and the COMELEC in keeping facts away from public knowledge. According to Adaza, the mainstream organization's selection coverage of elections have worked against fomenting nationwide awareness of the conduct of the recent automated polls, hinting of the deliberate co-optation of media in electronic fraud.



The transcript of a video presentation of the forum follows:

"As we struggle to get to the truth. The truth that will give honor to each Filipino's vote."

-- Patricia Ilagan, MIGHT e2010

"We wake up one day and the votes are set and we do not even know how our votes were counted. I think we owe it to ourselves to look for the truth. And we thank you for being here in search of the truth, so that each and every one of us can make our own conclusions, but we should not let democracy be assaulted if there is any question of the 2010 elections being fraudulently conducted."

-- Sen. Jamby Madrigal


What Really Happened with your Votes?

"What really happened with your votes? what went through this election on May 10. It's anything but not perfect." 

-- Mr. Edmundo G. Casino (Philippine Computer Society, Board of  Director)


Legal and technical explanations from I.T. experts and lawyers

"... if one of those people puts something malicious in the software and is distributed to all the machines, then that one person could be responsible for change of, possibly tens of thousands of votes, maybe even hundreds of thousands across the country. That's the very danger of the situation."


"So if you can hack the memory cards, you can control an election"

_________

"The good commissioner decided... this May 10, 2010 ... that practically debunks the provision of the law with regards section 6 of Republic Act No. 9369 under the title minimum system capabilities."
________

"One, it did not minimize cheating; in fact, it opened up more windows of opportunity to cheat in manners which would be very difficult for non-IT familiar watchers to comprehend."

--Vice-Gov. Emmanuel Pinol, North Cotabato


First Automated Polls Fail

"If this goes unattended, this country goes kaput in every elections."

_________

Proof of Fraud from Known Politicians      -      Modern way Cheating
"I was surprised when he asked me if I am willing to engage his services, including those of his partners to guarantee the victory of my entire slate in the province. He further told me that they could manipulate the PCOS machines and as a matter of fact, all PCOS machines will be reprogrammed before elections to accommodate all politicians who will enlist their services"

-- Gov. Ace Barbers, Surigao del Norte

"It is easier to cheat in this elections because it is all automatic"

-- Pastor Ronald Tan, Vice-Mayoralty candidate, Tagaytay City


Those who Deny the Truth to be Heard

"It is not their right at all to hear it in my committee. The committee has the right to hear this in executive session. If he wants to speak, the cameras please go down to the parking lot and listen to him."

-- Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin


Truth that Every Filipino Deserves       -    For a Country Free of Fraud & Corruption

"We must uncover truth now. I am saying this: we must prosecute this individuals now. If it is really his desire and claim to rid this nation of corruption, start here, start with this election."

-- Pastor Ronald Tan of Tagaytay City


Uncovering the Truth

Question: "Are you guys telling us that Noynoy Aquino and Jejomar Binay are not the winners?

"To really uncover truth, now whether or not it is Noynoy or whether or not it is Erap or whether or not it is Villar, that is actually a... that's beside the point."
-- Pastor Tan


Who made the Problems

"The Problem is not about the law. It was about the implementation and the people behind."


Knowing who Really won the Elections

"Erap Estrada won. But in the election returns that was used in the canvass, it was Noynoy Aquino who won."
-- Atty. Arnold Bayobay


Leaders willing to Tell All - Know how they Made Fun on the Elections

"The Elections held on May 10, 2010 is illegal and unconstitutional. Here, you don't come out with a receipt, insert your card...ah, the ballot and you get "Congratulations." 'Congratulations, stupid.'... hehe.

"The sooner we throw this fellow out into the Mindanao Pit, the better it will be for us."

-- Ex-Cong. Homobono Adaza


Be Strong, Fight for the Truth    -    Learn the Whole Truth

"Let us build the house of this country that is founded on rock, beginning today."

-- ex-Assemblyman Adaza


[Media Complicity?]

"Nothing is changed since Martial Law, except that the people following you are more invisible and have more power because if they can control media, they can control the way you think. And we cannot allow the mainstream media to control the way we think, into thinking that this was the cleanest elections that we ever had."
-- Sen. Madrigal


Question: "The question is right behind our guests. Where did our votes go? What do I tell my family?"

The forum  held at the Manila Polo Club was attended by some 500 people that included intellectuals, civil society leaders, NGOs, academics, corporate executives, religious, student leaders, retired military and police officers, socialites and a few European diplomats.

The MIGHT e2010 coalition includes the Philippine Computer Society, Bro. Eddie Villanueva's Bangon Pilipinas, Councilor Jc de los Reyes' Ang Kapatiran Party, Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines, Brigada Berde, Bantay Garci 2010, Mahal Ko Bayan Ko, Center for Alternative Development Initiatives, Buklod National Political Party, Quezon City Political Coalition for Truth,  Para Sa Bansa Movement, Buklod Political Party, ATRIPPEDA.


References:


WHERE DID OUR VOTES GO? Video presentation of the MIGHT E2010 forum held June 19, 2010, at the Manila Polo Club. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZISQHOLeQ&feature

Alave, Kristine. New coalition seeks to uncover May 10 automated poll fraud. Inquirer.net. 20 June 2010. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100620-276637/New_coalition_seeks_to_uncover_May_10_automated_poll_fraud

Cunanan, Buddy. A ‘MIGHT e2010’ Show of Force. Manilatmes.net. 22 June 2010. http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/19985-a-might-e2010-show-of-force

Santos, Reynaldo. Check presidential votes, too, for possible cheating --watchdog. 21 June 2010. Newsbreak. http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7932&Itemid=88889062

*Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes and Laws Honoring Filipino Historical Figures.  *From the Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research Service, House of Congress. Site.  http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/culture-profile-nationalhero.php

************

To Pres. Erap Estrada: A Pleading NOT to Concede

Pres. Joseph "ERAP" Estrada, I beg you to please NOT concede to the Yellow Cheat.

You said this is the "final, final performance" of your life. Continue then for the worthy, principled cause of searching for the May 10, 2010 ELECTORAL TRUTH.

Hindi po kayo nag-isa at kasama ninyo kami. Nandiyan din po ang ma-prinsipyong sina Sen. Jamby Madrigal, G. Nicanor Perlas, at G. JC de los Reyes. These three fine lady and gentlemen presidentiables, who have endured the malicious ridicule of the yellow media and civil (daw) society, have acknowledged their defeat in the elections but chose not to concede in the face of apparent massive fraud.

Nick, Jamby and JC, while tailenders in the Comelec tallies, are most worthy of the Filipinos' accolade because despite the fact that they have nothing to gain but possibly everything material to lose, they elect to boldly uphold the patriotic duty to ensure that the sanctity of the Filipinos' ballot is preserved. Bro. Eddie Villanueva and his running-mate, Mr. Perfecto Yasay, seem also trekking the difficult path of searching for the truth in the recent democratic exercise to chose our leaders. These beprincipled modern-day heroes and heroine are your unwitting patriotic allies in uncovering the truth of the automated fraud in the recent elections, Pres. Estrada.


As the second front-runner in the Comelec count, you logically seem to have been the target of the apparent automated electoral fraud. Thus, you should not concede because to do so is tantamount to condoning electoral fraud, trampling upon the expressed rights of the people, and giving away the Republic to the hands of crooks, liars, and high-level criminals.

With all due respect, I humbly ask of you not to repeat your past mistake in EDSA 2 when you sacrificed your position and the vote of the sovereign people to avoid confrontation with the seditious mob in January 2001. The result of that well-meaning mistake has been nine years of a reign of impunity by Gloria and her cabal of thieves, cheaters, and liars. An evil Illegitimate's reign that not only smashed the Filipinos' moral fiber but, as well, led to unparalleled hunger and killings, and death from extrajudicial executions, warlord-perpetrated massacres or negligence by sheer misappropriation of disaster funds.

By opting not to confront the EDSA 2 conspirators and mob, President Estrada, you ultimately did not save Filipino lives but lost many, and much more. If you opt to abandon the fight for the presidency now, you could be delivering motherland to a most undeserving, if not dangerous, administration.

The TRUTH, upon which are hinged the moral and democratic sanity of the Philippines, is worth fighting for, perhaps even dying for. Kayo po ang nasa posisyon upang maibalik ang dangal na nanggagaling sa pagkakakilanlan ng mundo sa kakayanan ng ating lahi na galangin ang tunay na boses ng mga mamamayan.

Please lead the nation in upholding our democratic ideals. Do not concede to a fraud. With the help of the true God that does not condone cheating, neither power grab, and does not discriminate between the "great unwashed" and the perfumed, washed masses we will succeed, Mr. President.

Foreign Powers Coercing the Filipino Masses for a Noynoy "Presidency"?

THE history of the Philippine Islands is a rather pathetic and protracted story of foreign domination. Some four centuries since the natives were first subjected to colonization, the aftermath of the May 10, 2010 presidential elections shows a much more subtle and different assertion of hegemony upon the Filipino masses. In an astounding breach of diplomatic protocol, the ambassadors of the powerful countries led by, who else, the United States, are paying courtesy visits to front runner but far-from-proclaimed Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III--this, amidst allegations of massive automated poll fraud.

Philippines as Subject, Always?

From the time, at least, that the Spaniards began the colonization of the archipelago some 400 years ago, Filipinos have never been quite able to entirely free themselves from the yoke(s) of foreign domination even after its two episodes of "Independence" half a century apart. Controversial historical figure Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent on June 12, 1898, only to be invaded by the then-emerging imperialist power that was the United States. After a brief period of Japanese Occupation, the Bald Eagle nation regained control. Soon, it granted the Filipinos "independence," but with usual help from the coop-ted elites, was able to extract burdensome neo-colonial deals, most infamous of which were the Parity Rights Agreement and the RP-US Military Bases Agreement.

From then till now, American de facto influence has never really left the country, influencing Philippine foreign policies, apparently being involved with the killing of nationalist, anti-Bases Senator Claro M. Recto, and simply meddling in internal affairs in other ways, sinister and otherwise. Perhaps, the most obvious expression of continuing US influence, if not control, over its former Southeast Asian colony is its traditional say over who will sit as Philippine President. This fact is most dramatically seen in the covert campaigning of the Central Intelligence Agency for the presidential bid of then-Defense Minister Ramon Magsaysay and in the US role in the forcible exile of President Ferdinand Marcos to Hawaii during the 1986 "People Power" revolt.

America's flex of its hegemonic muscles over the country is being seen once more as it subtly twists the Filipinos' arm into blindly accepting Aquino as the next "President." How to? By conspicuously expressing its biased and improper show of support for their incoming 'puppet' of choice well before Congress has done its job of canvassing the votes and settling the issue of electoral credibility.




"President Apparent"

The media has eagerly reported on how Noynoy Aquino has led second front runner ex-President Joseph Estrada by a wide margin in the tabulation of the election results beginning from the early hours of the quick count, hailing the recent elections as swift, orderly, and credible. As reports of poll irregularities and fraud came in, the yellow media began carrying stories of electoral fraud, albeit with begrudging reluctance.

At any rate, Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party has not yet been proclaimed president-elect. In fact, it is a big question whether he will indeed be proclaimed by Congress, given the many reports of irregularities and fraud allegations at the presidential level in the country's first national automated elections.


New US puppet?

How is it then that the new United States Ambassador to the Philippines already paid courtesy call to Noynoy Aquino? Congressional canvassing has only started yesterday but a week earlier, Harry Thomas Jr. met with Aquino in his house at Times St. Funny thing is, the development came amidst the recognition that Aquino is, at best, only "President-apparent."

Why should any foreign government render a premature courtesy visit to a presidentiable who has not been proclaimed by Congress and whose apparent lead in the poll tabulation has been marred by serious questions on the integrity and credibility of the recent automated electoral exercise? That is, if the former colonial master is not subtly bamboozling the local population into accepting Noynoy Aquino as the presidential winner, and to hell whether the elections has been rigged.

This (un)diplomatic action of the US smacks of foreign meddling because it is an affront to the Philippine Congress that was, at the time of the courtesy visit, hearing statements on the reported massive electronic election fraud. Was the US sending signals to Congress that Aquino is their chosen man so legislators better proclaim him?

The same diplomatic faux pas has elicited a defiantly patriotic reaction from Nicanor Perlas, one of the presidential contenders who have admitted to their defeat but chose not to concede to Aquino amidst the many reports of automated poll irregularities and fraud. In his Facebook account Perlas remarked: "US congrats for Noynoy premature. Congress has not declared Noynoy as president. Media spin wants Pinoys to accept US judgment. Why? Are we under the US?"

Besides, just what if, based on widespread electronic fraud, Congress decides there was failure of elections and thereby calls for a run-off polls, with Estrada emerging the victor? Wouldn't that be so embarrassing on the part of the US having paid courtesy visit to the wrong president-elect? So why is the Bald Eagle nation risking a diplomatic faux pas of sorts by being much too supportive of Aquino?

The truth is that there's hardly any question that Aquino has the blessings of good old ex-colonial master Bald Eagle. During the election campaign, Sen. Edgardo Angara actually advised Aquino against "social meetings" with foreign diplomats. Certain officials of the US embassy, in fact, had actually sought meetings with key members of the Liberal Party standard-bearer's staff as Aquino himself admitted that he met with former Ambassador Kristie Kenney.


American Interference in the 21st century

Apparently as if on cue from the US, Japan and China followed suit, paying courtesy visits to a man who has not even been proclaimed Philippine's next President and whose apparent electoral victory is in serious question. So why are these powerful nations sending their ambassadors to openly (and with partiality) support Aquino amidst the brouhaha over automated "Hello Garci"? Meddling again?

Isn't it basic international political correctness to wait for the official settlement of a contest, especially if a dispute is involved, before extending any congratulatory message to one of the competing parties? Isn't it diplomatically obnoxious that the US ambassador, along with those of China and Japan, paid Noynoy Aquino a well-publicized courtesy visit at this time? 

By making its ambassador pay courtesy call to President-apparent-cum-possibly-Presidential-cheater-apparent at this time, isn't America subtly twisting the arms of the Filipinos to stop questioning the validity of the recent presidential elections?  Showing partisan preference for Noynoy is an insult to Philippine sovereignty. Unless, of course, the country has never really been truly free. Free but not quite free of meddling hands….


P.S.

Presidential candidate JC De Los Reyes, another admitted "loser" in the elections who withdrew his concession to Aquino following reports of automated poll fraud, shares Perlas' sentiment, remarking in his Facebook account that the American ambassador should have been "'diplomatic' enough not to preempt the process."
____________


References



Cacho-Olivares, Ninez. "Premature." The Daily Tribune. 25 May 2010. http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100525com9.html

Danao, Efren. Time to end poll surveys – Angara." Manila Times. 24 April 2010
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/15913-time-to-end-poll-surveys--angara

JC De Los Reys Facebook Account link. 29 May 2010. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1576030994&v=wall&story_fbid=117658258275291

Mabasa, Roy. "US Ambassador Harry Thomas visits Noynoy to extend his felicitations." Manila Bulletin. 22 May 2010. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/258467/us-ambassador-harry-thomas-visits-noynoy-extend-his-felicitations

Nicanor Perlas's Facebook Status. 24 May 2010. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1797810896&v=wall&story_fbid=122128841151922&ref=mf

Perlas, Nicanor. Beware and Overcome [YELLOW] Media Manipulation. May 2010. http://blog-by-taga-ilog-news.blogspot.com/2010/05/beware-and-overcome-yellow-media.html

Simbulan, Roland. Covert Operations and the CIA's Hidden History in the Philippines. 18 Aug. 2000. Retrieved March 17, 2009,http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/filipinas/doc/cia.html.

The Worst Book of 2002. Review of The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power, by Max Boot. 2003. http://www.main.nc.us/books/books.cgi?theworstbookof2002.

Why I am Voting Joseph "Erap" Estrada

Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada, the 13th President of the Philippine Republic. So unceremoniously deposed by the conspiracy of political opportunists, unpatriotic businessmen, misenlightened Church prelates, seditious military elements and stupid gullible mob during the January 2001 EDSA 2 "People  Power" coup.

Why vote for him in his renewed bid for the presidency  this coming May 10, 2010 elections? There are several very good historical, moral and practical reasons why I support him. In this evolving post in the countdown to election day, I explain my vote.

1. Erap is a Nationalist.

In September 2009 speech, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile took to the Senate floor  in defense of the former President against the tirades of now-Senator-on-the-run-for-murder-raps Panfilo Lacson. In his  characterization of Estrada as a matter of personal privilege, he recounted the struggle of the nationalists, Estrada well included, in moving to terminate the protracted RP-US Military Bases Agreement.

Enrile describes Estrada as someone who has "proved to be a true nationalist," being part of the eleven other Senators who dared vote for the abrogation of the Bases Agreement. This came despite the strong lobbying done by the pro-Bases advocates, led by no less than President Corazon C. Aquino. The pro-Bases forces tried to push for the extension of United States military presence in the country, some 92 years after the Americans colonized the land and over four decades after the Bases Agreement was first forged. Estrada and the other anti-Bases senators were denounced as the "The Dirty Dozen" by those who had no sense to assert Filipino sovereignty; on the other, the progressive nationalist groups hailed them as "The Magnificent Twelve."

On April 19, 1988 during his 51st birthday, then-Sen. Joseph Estrada delivered his privilege speech for the abrogation of the U.S. Bases Agreement. Erap's words can still remembered for its stirring and clarion call for the nation to muster its will and courage to assert its independence and take on the path of self-sufficiency:

Let this be our finest hour as we face the judgment of history. We have become so dependent on the Americans that we have not learned to be self-sufficient. Our country has been seen as a nation of beggars, a nation of prostitutes, a nation of cheaters, a nation of domestic helpers. And if we do not assert ourselves today, we will also be known as a nation of cowards. This I cannot accept and this, we must not accept.

The role of the 12 Anti-Bases senators in heeding the sovereign call for real Philippine independence free of the military presence of its former colonizers cannot be discounted. Prior to his vote, Erap even did his laudable part in the propaganda campaign to bring the issue to a people long bathed in colonial conditioning with the movie he produced himself, "Sa Kuko ng Agila. " Co-starring former Sen. Nikki Coseteng,  the movie took potshots at the American bases in anticipation of its scheduled expiration in 1991.

Estrada stars in "Sa Kuko ng Agila"

Estrada  obviously did not do the abrogation of the neo-colonial treaty himself. Even prior to the "Magnificent 12" senators, the likes of Claro M. Recto came before in the decades-long campaign against what was then the greatest symbol and tool of continuing neo-imperialist US influence in the country. However, Estrada's use of popular cinema--with his craft, charm and connection with the masses--undoubtedly proved an effectively tool that helped crystallize the cause of Anti-Bases movement in the masses' mind and ready the Filipinos for the historic change the true patriots and nationalists have long been aspiring and working for.

(To be continued....)

__________


References

Enrile, Juan Ponce. Enrile defends Estrada. 22 September 2009. Ellen Tordesillas Blog. http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=7336

Erap's Famous Speech on U.S. Bases Philippines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXXw_cRzhYo