Roxas: Road clear for 2010 LP victory

Liberal Party President Senator Mar Roxas today called on all Liberal Party members to unite and move towards victory in the coming 2010 national elections following a decision of the Commission on Elections upholding the November 26, 2007 proceedings of the LP’s National Executive Council (NECO).

"All stumbling blocks to the road to victory have been removed. Oras na para magkaisa (It’s time to unite)," Roxas said after being informed of the Comelec ruling.

"Oras na para tuluyan nating pagtagumpayan ang laban para baguhin ang sistema ng katiwalian na lumakas ng todo sa ilalim ng gobyernong Arroyo (It is now time for the LP to bring the fight to the final push and reform the system of corruption and patronage perpetuated by the Arroyo regime)," he added.

In a 12-page decision dated June 18, 2009, the Comelec denied the petition of DENR Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr. seeking to nullify the November 26, 2007 proceedings of the LP’s NECO in Club Filipino that elected Roxas as Party President to succeed former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

The decision was signed by Comelec Chair Jose Melo and Commissioners Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle, Ledonardo Leonida, Nicodemo Ferrer and Rene Sarmiento.

The Comelec decision also upheld the inherent right of political parties to impose discipline within its ranks and the determination of who can become members and the composition of its leadership.

The Supreme Court had earlier in July 31, 2007 also declared illegal an attempt by Atienza to form his own party leadership and upheld Drilon’s leadership following the LP’s decision in 2005 to break away from the Arroyo Administration over the “Hello Garci” controversy that alleged massive cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.

LP Secretary-General Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya hailed the Comelec decision as a signal for all LP members throughout the country to proceed with preparations for the coming 2010 elections.

"Destiny has put the LP at the forefront of struggles for reforms in the country. It is now time for us to unite to make sure we pursue this platform of reforming our country," Abaya said.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 | posted in armando velasco, comelec, franklin drilon, hello garci, jose melo, joseph abaya, ledonardo leonida, lito atienza, lucenito tagle, mar roxas, nicodemo ferrer, pgma, philippines, rene sarmiento | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to GMA: Take responsibility for resolving automation crisis

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday called on President Arroyo to take responsibility for resolving the crisis involving the Commission on Election’s poll automation project.

"It’s a matter of national security and public interest; President Arroyo should quickly call all parties involved to a meeting and find out for herself why and how this important project hit this snag," he said.

"Kung talagang desidido ang gobyernong ito na magkaroon ng malinis na halalan, dapat ang Pangulo mismo ang humanap ng paraan para resolbahin ang problemang ito. Oo, alitan ito sa pagitan ng dalawang mag-partner sa isang korporasyon, pero malaki ang implikasyon nito sa demokrasya natin," he added.

"Gutom na nga at walang trabaho ang mamamayan, nanakawin pa ng gobyerno ang pagkakataon nilang bumoto. Ito na nga lang ang nagbibigay sa kanila ng pag-asa na magkakaroon ng pagbabago. Pero di pa nga nagsisimula ang kampanya, ninanakaw na ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa tapat at malinis na halalan," he stressed.

The scheduled automation of the 2010 national elections is now in peril due to internal wrangling between Smartmatic and its Filipino partner, Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), which has withdrawn from the consortium, citing irreconcilable differences with the foreign firm.

The Visayan senator reiterated that a delay, much worse a cancellation, of the 2010 national elections is a severe setback to Philippines democracy as this would deny Filipinos the chance to elect their new leaders in the name of change and reform.

"Responsibilidad ng Pangulo at ng Comelec na siguruhing matutuloy ang eleksyon sa susunod na taon. Hindi maaaring panoorin lamang nila ang away sa pagitan ng Smartmatic at TIM nang wala silang ginagawang paraan upang maayos ang mga gusot at matuloy ang proyekto," he said.

"Kaya naman panahon na para patunayan ng administrasyong ito na iniisip din nila ang kapakanan ng taumbayan," he added.

Friday, July 3, 2009 | posted in comelec, jose melo, mar roxas, pgma, president, smartmatic, tim | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Automation failure an attact on democracy

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today likened the potential collapse of the election automation project for 2010 as an attack on the country’s democracy as it will deny Filipinos their eagerly-awaited chance to elect new leaders.

"Our people have long awaited this chance to elect their leaders in clean and honest elections, and automation was seen as a way to break away from the tradition of cheating. Now, even that chance is denied us," Roxas said.

Roxas had earlier written Comelec Chair Jose Melo to express concerns over possible hitches in the planned poll automation system.

"Para sa taumbayang gustong gusto na nang pagbabago, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang anumang dahilan upang ipagpaliban ang eleksyon. Ito na nga lang ang inaasahan ng taumbayan na maging solusyon sa pandaraya, tapos ngayon ay biglang mawawalang parang bula," he said.

"Computerized man o hindi, kailangang matuloy ang eleksyon sa susunod na taon," he said.

"Ang tanong, ano ba ang mga ginawang paghahanda ng Comelec? Hindi puwedeng ngayon pa lang sila magbubuo ng mga contingency measures," he also said.

Comelec’s Melo had said the Comelec would be forced to go back to manual voting following the collapse of the Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) consortium, which won the bidding for the right to lease 82,200 counting machines to be used by the poll body to complete the canvassing of votes in two days instead of weeks under the manual system.

TIM announced its withdrawal from the consortium on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences with Smartmatic.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 | posted in comelec, jose melo, mar roxas, philippines, poll automation, smartmatic, tim | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas on Melo and Yano appointments

Senator Mar Roxas welcomed the reported appointments of retired Supreme Court associate justice Jose Melo as chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and Army General Alexander Yano as the incoming Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"If these reports are true then I welcome these appointments. I am very confident that Justice Melo will uphold the same courage and professionalism when he issued the report on extrajudicial killings and that General Yano will effectively remove the stigma of partisanship in the AFP," Senator Roxas said.

The senator pointed out that the two appointments were the result of fruitful conversations between the executive branch and civil society and based on the credibility and qualifications of the two appointees.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | posted in alexander yano, armed forces of the philippines, comelec, hermogenes esperon, jose melo, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]