The 2007 Philippine Election: Eye Witness Reports

Although the Legal Network for Truthful Elections or LENTE was established to monitor only the canvassing of votes (which will begin tomorrow, May 15), people have been calling up the LENTE hotline to report irregularities that they have observed on election day. LENTE’s nationwide pool of lawyers, paralegals, and law students have also sent in their observations. Because of these alerts, LENTE will be focusing on the areas below. We are also forwarding a summary of their reports in the hopes that these may be further looked into by PPCRV and the media.

INDANAN, SULU PROVINCE
Military and the police are all over the schools, causing people to be fearful and to stay home. In the precinct in Barangay Pasil, the election inspectors have been seen filling up blank ballots, there is no voters list available, no ink used, and the ballot boxes are open.

SANTA CATALINA, ILOCOS SUR
A flying voter has been spotted by LENTE lawyers in the area. They plan to press charges against this person.

LANAO DEL SUR
A PPCRV/LENTE volunteer has described elections in 13 towns of Lanao del Sur as a total failure: Bayang, Butig, Masiu, Sultan Malulindong, Lumbalan, Lumbayahagi, Kakay, Tubaran, Marugong, ANalas, Lumbabayao, Kapatagan. In those areas, there have been errors in the clustering of precincts, the election inspectors are disorganized, and gunfire to scare away voters. In the town of Marugong, 762 blank ballots for registered voters have not been delivered.

MAIGO, LANAO DEL NORTE
There is an unconfirmed report that a candidate for mayor and 11 armed men working for him are detained at a police station. It is rumored that the rest of the armed group will attack the police station. There have also been reports of ballot snatching in Maigo.

BANSALAN, DAVAO DEL SUR
There are reports of pre-filled up ballots at precinct 139-A at Barangay New Clarin.