Automated elections in ARMM means automation possible in whole country

ROBIN PADILLA PROMOTES ARMM AUTOMATED POLLS. Actor Robin Padilla holds up a comic book educating voters about the August 11 automated elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. With Padilla are Senator Richard Gordon, Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting; Kevin Chung, Chief Executive Officer of Avante International Technology Inc. which signed up the actor, a Muslim convert, for P2 million to promote the computerized polls; and Comelec commissioner Moslemen Macarambon. Photo taken by INQUIRER.net Reporter Katherine Evangelista


MANILA, Philippines - The chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws on Friday vowed to shoot down moves to postpone the scheduled Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections.

Sen. Richard Gordon issued the threat during a weekly forum in Quezon City, saying that he would move once the bill reaches the Senate.

His remarks came after the bill seeking to postpone the ARMM polls was filed at the House of Representatives.

The bill seeks to re-schedule the ARMM polls from August this year to May 2010.

"Well, I can filibuster the proceedings. That measure will fall in my committee," Gordon said.

Gordon had authored the Amended Automated Elections Law or republic Act 9369 which calls for the pilot testing of automated election system in six cities and six provinces prior to its implementation in a national election.

He also pushed for the pilot testing of the automated elections during the ARMM polls slated on August 11.

"The ARMM has been labeled in the past as the perennial election hotspot and where supposedly a lot of cheating takes place. If the automated election works in ARMM, it can work anywhere in the country," Gordon said.- GMANews.TV

Senator vows to filibuster vs ARMM polls postponement
07/25/2008 | 09:43 PM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109459/
Senator-vows-to-filibuster-vs-ARMM-polls-postponement