Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Group tells public to take pics of election fraud
CAPITALIZING on the popularity of camera-equip cellphones, a consumer watchdog group on Monday appealed to the populace to lend their hand in ensuring a credible and honest election this May by taking photographs of any violation of election laws using their phones.
TXT Power convenor Anthony Ian Cruz said it is high time that the electorate take it upon themselves and not wait for the authorities to ensure that candidates in the upcoming elections do not violate the Omnibus Election Code.
He said the electorate can use their camera-equip cellphones to snap photos of election-related violations such as campaign materials posted outside the common poster area, cheating, and vote-buying.
"We should not wait for the authorities such as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take action. We have to do our responsibilities as good citizens to ensure an honest, fair, and credible election," Cruz said.
He said the photos can be sent to any election-accredited watchdog groups such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for documentation and as evidence for the filing of administrative charges against the offending candidates and their supporters.
He said aside from taking pictures, the electorate can also send text messages to concerned authorities and groups.
Last week, TXT Power urged Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. to strictly enforce election laws and issue guidelines and regulations regarding campaigning through text messages after the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) asked the election body for its legal opinion on the matter.
Cruz said the two government agencies should ensure that the privacy of cell phone subscriber be respected from political text messages send by candidates and their supporters.
Complaints about the proliferation of streamers, tarpaulins, and posters in areas outside the designated area even before the official campaign period started have been aired by concerned citizens, but the Comelec said it cannot do anything unless these personalities have formally filed their certificate of candidacy.
Text messaging is very popular in the country with authorities estimating 40 million text messages are being sent daily making the Philippines the "texting capital" of the world.
It has been used with great success by cause-oriented groups to mobilize their supporters, especially during the 2001 People Power 1 and in 2005 when anti-government groups staged massive protests after evidence surfaced allegedly pointing to the administration's hand in the cheating in the last election.
The call of TXT Power came after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a pastoral statement stressing the need for a credible and honest election adding that the nation cannot afford another fraud like during the 2004 elections.
Earlier various civic society groups initiated a nationwide information campaign designed to educate the electorate on the intricacies of the country's voting system. The first phase was held in Makati late last year and was attended by residents while other sorties will be held in various parts of the country in the run up to the May elections.(Sunnex)
