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Ampatuan Jr. pleads not guilty to massacre of 57th victim
By TESSA JAMANDRE HEARINGS on the Maguindanao massacre resumed Wednesday, the first under the Aquino government, with former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and 16 other suspects pleading not guilty to the murder of the 57th victim, UNTV journalist Victor Nunez. Ampatuan, the alleged mastermind, and the other suspects, mostly police officers, were each »Read More
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Dirty politics behind Yusoph kidnapping
By FROILAN GALLARDO CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY.— It was all about the huge amount of bribe money that corrupted election officials who issued orders to cluster polling precincts to favored politicians during the last elections in May, military officers and poll watchdog groups said. The officers and NGO leaders said this was the reason Nuraldin »Read More
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‘Peacemakers’ cited for helping reduce election violence
MAGUINDANAO governor Esmael Mangudadatu and 13 other “peacemakers” were recognized Friday for their role in helping reduce election-related violence in the recently concluded elections. The nongovernment organization Consortium for Electoral Reform, which spearheaded the Vote Peace project, gave out the awards as it ended a conference assessing the conduct of the May 10 automated elections. »Read More
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Abra town hall bombed
By ARTHA KIRA PAREDES AN improvised bomb exploded at the Bangued Municipal Hall at dawn today, the inauguration day of newly elected provincial officials. The explosion, which damaged P50,000 worth of property, happened at about 2 a.m., according to Abra Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Joseph Adnol. The police report said an “improvised bomb was »Read More
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Minus Ampatuans, Maguindanao celebrates ‘peaceful’ polls
By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS Mindanews (Conclusion) SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao.—In the province where the worst pre-election violence in Philippine history happened on Nov. 23, there was reason to celebrate when the worst-case scenarios on election day did not happen. Soldiers and policemen were already tearing down the posters of candidates and other election paraphernalia a day »Read More
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For security reasons, new Maguindanao gov to hold office in hometown
By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS Mindanews (First of two parts) SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao.—Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu will take his oath of office as the new governor on June 30 and deliver his inaugural address in his hometown Buluan, 40 kilometers from the provincial capitol here. Mangudadatu intends to be far from this place, the bailiwick of the »Read More
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More abductions in ‘peaceful’ May 10 polls—PNP
By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE THE dust may have settled from what is deemed to be a generally peaceful May 10 elections, but records show the first automated polls also gave rise to a dozen of abductions. Compared with the 2004 and 2007 elections, when no abductions were recorded, about 12 individuals were kidnapped this year »Read More
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Barangay captain shot
By ARTHA KIRA PAREDES BANGUED, Abra.— A barangay captain of Pidigan town was shot on the nape Thursday evening, just a few days before the election period comes to an end. Pangtud Barangay Captain Rodolfo Bragas was shot by a certain Noli Marsan and three other companions in his house while he was writing a barangay report. Marsan »Read More
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Comelec unable to stop vote-buying in Samar special polls
By LEYTE-SAMAR DAILY EXPRESS TACLOBAN CITY.—Vote-buying marred the conduct of the special elections in Barangay Buenos Aires, Pagsanghan town, Samar Thursday with amounts reportedly reaching as high as P20,000 per voter. Jose Nick Mendros, Commission on Elections regional director, admitted the Comelec could not do anything to prosecute those responsible for vote-buying as no »Read More
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Violence, vote-buying mar special polls in Lanao Sur
By VIOLETA M. GLORA Mindanews ILIGAN CITY.—Reports of fraud and violence marked the special elections held in Lanao del Sur Thursday as vote-buying proliferated, with the price pegged at anywhere from P10,000 to 15,000 per family. This was the report made by the Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform (Citizens CARE), an election watchdog in »Read More
