Coalition against Philippine election fraud formed in Toronto

Coalition against Philippine election fraud formed in Toronto

Election Watchdog Convenors. From left: Duterte Toronto representative Ron Turla, community organizer and activist Mithi Esguerra, Filipino Workers Network co-chair Ben Corpuz, Pinoy Radyo commentator/host Joey Abrenilla and International Womens’ Alliance member Connie Sorio attentively listen to Atty. Jean of Grace Poe’s camp, speaking from a phone, regarding accreditation problems for poll watchers. (Photo: Lui Queaño)

(Updated May 5, 2016)

Koalisyon Kontra Dayaan to launch campaign on May 5

By Lui Queaño and Pet Cleto

A coalition that will campaign against election fraud and irregularities – consisting of individuals, personalities, political parties and supporters, community activists, as well as youth groups and women’s organizations – was formed on May 3. The group announced that it will launch Koalisyon Kontra Dayaan with a press conference at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 5 at Cusina Restaurant, 288 Wilson Ave. in Toronto.

A short program will be held with invited guest performers and speakers. The event includes discussion on the current election-related fraud and irregularities, and particularly the conduct and manner of Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) in Toronto, including accreditation problems for poll watchers, testimonies and incidence of irregularities like double and triple ballots received by voters, and other election-related issues.

The group’s objectives are to monitor, document and protest election fraud and irregularities in the conduct of the 2016 Philippine national elections in Canada’s three voting precincts (Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver).

“The issue in this coming polls is the credibility of the political exercise in the face of election irregularities and fraudulent actions made by authorities and experienced by the voters themselves since Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) started on April 9. We are very much concerned about complete transparency as to the conduct and manner by which this election proceeds, particularly here in Toronto where we have been receiving reports of election irregularities,” declared Ben Corpuz, Filipino Workers Network Co-Chair and the chief convenor of Koalisyon Kontra Dayaan.

“We are launching Koalisyon Kontra Dayaan, an election watchdog, because we need to ensure that our votes are counted properly and correctly. We want to encourage our voters to get involved, to take part in the coalition and act when needed to defend their rights to vote,” Connie Sorio of the International Migrants’ Alliance, said.

“The basis of the coalition’s unity is to finally assure that the electoral exercise comes to an honest, clean and credible conclusion, based on integrity and transparency. What has brought us together is that there have been so many indications that these qualities were absent since the Overseas Absentee Voting started weeks ago”, she said.

Sorio pointed out that there is not even a single accredited poll watcher from any political party in Toronto. “The Philippine Consulate in Toronto cannot even give us a sound and logical response to this concern,” she commented, “at turuan lang sila nang turuan. There’s no clear indication that a poll watcher will be accredited soon.”

For its part, Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP) also criticized the slow action from the Consulate with regards to the issuance of accreditation for the poll watchers. Migrante Partylist National Coordinator for Canada Maru Maesa said in an interview that this absence of accredited poll watchers in the Toronto district puts the Consulate in Toronto, and the COMELEC as well, under a heavy cloud of suspicion.

“Masyadong matagal na ang tinakbo ng proseso. Pabalik-balik lang palagi sa konsulado pero wala silang masagot kung bakit hindi sila makapag-isyu ng accreditation samantalang yung endorsement at letter ng partido ay sapat na para ma-accredit ang mga poll watchers,” Maesa said.

There are about 35,000 registered voters in the Toronto precinct alone.

“For our part,” Ron Turla, a Duterte-Toronto Organizer said, “we submitted our request for accreditation as early as March 31, but even up to this late date, the Philippine Consulate keeps telling us to come back because COMELEC has not forwarded them a letter of approval for our official poll watchers.”

“We have seen how the PCOS machines are being used at the Consulate. Kita naman kung paano ipasok sa machine yung mga ballots. But we’re about 3 meters to 4 meters away. Medyo malayo,” Joey Abrenilla, a Pinoy Radyo commentator and host and a Duterte supporter, said when asked of his observation on the conduct of voting at the Philippine Consulate.

“But the issue pa rin nga until now we have no accredited poll watcher. So kahit nakikita namin na nag-work ang machine still hindi kami pwede mag-complain sa conduct ng election at wala kaming papel, wala kaming accredited poll watcher kahit na kumpleto namin ang mga required documents for accreditation”, Abrenilla added.

Turla’s and Abrenilla’s statements were confirmed by lawyers from both the Duterte team and the Poe team, who joined the coalition’s meeting by phone.

The coalition has, moreover, received reports that the Vancouver consulate has given accreditation to poll watchers in that district although they had submitted their documents later than the required five days before the first day of voting (April 9), in accordance with section 40 of Comelec Resolution 10052.

The obvious lack of concern of electoral authorities from both the Comelec and the Philippine Consulate of Toronto over the issue of accreditation of poll watchers in Toronto was an important common issue that drew the coalition members into unity.

Though the coalition comes late into the electoral exercise, and though poll-watching has not been properly assured for the many voters who have already cast their ballots, the recently-created coalition has their work cut out for them. The tasks of its members will be necessary in the last and critical lap of the elections: document the actions of the Philippine Consulate and Comelec authorities in the final week of the elections; monitor vote-counting in Ottawa; gather reports and complaints until May 9 and beyond; and finally, chart how the coalition’s campaign will continue after the elections.

Other convenors include Duterte supporter Joey Abrenilla; community activist and organizer Mithi Esguerra; Anakbayan Toronto organizer Ysh Cabana; GABRIELA Ontario Vice-chair Rafunzel Korngut; writers Petronila Cleto and Lui Queaño; and union organizer Bayani Edades. Invitations were earlier sent to other political groups, but many were unable to send representatives to the meeting.