Election surveys / P-Noy on Mamasapano anniversary

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

Election watchdog groups have expressed concern voters are being influenced by surveys on candidates that are usually paid for by politicians. There are groups now who are advocating a total ban on surveys during certain months leading to elections.  

The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) for one, warned voters that they are being unduly influenced by surveys.Lente executive director Rona Ann Caritos told a media forum that most surveys, comply with the requirements in the Fair Elections Act, but still the voters should be reminded that these surveys are commissioned.

“Surveys cost millions of pesos and someone is paying for them. No matter how much survey (companies) say that they are independent, they have a client that pays millions and, of course, that client has influence on the questions,” she added.

Caritos said voters should not rely on who are leading in the surveys to make their choice of candidates.“There is really a danger that surveys may influence voters because we Filipinos are betting on winnable candidates,” she added.           

According to Eric Alvia, executive director of the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections, voters should not let themselves be influenced by surveys meant only to guide candidates and political parties.

Alvia said that surveys “are only snapshots at a given point in time” and should not be the basis for how voters choose their candidates.Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting representative Antonio Villasor maintained that voters should be wary of surveys because they are “self-propelled.”

                ***

This, as the Comelec urged the public not to sell their votes and instead vote for the “best and good candidate.” The poll body also called for citizens to serve as watchers during voting and counting of votes, assist in monitoring campaign expenses and violations of campaign rules by serving as witnesses or complainants.

               The Comelec also urged citizens to assist and monitor the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines in implementation of Gun Ban Law and also serve as members of “Comelec Task Force Baklas”.

                        ***

Finally, President Aquino has claimed responsibility for the deaths of members of Special Action Force in Mamasapano killed by Muslim separatists.Senate and police investigations last year had been thorough. So, what else is left to find out?Nothing new, according to Malacañang. 

“As far as we are concerned… the testimonies have all been put out. We have been forthright, so we don’t know what it is that they will come up with that is new. We will just have to wait and see,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Thursday, referring to the reopening of the probe by the Senate on Jan. 25, the anniversary of the deaths of 44 police SAF commandos.

He said various statements of key players were taken during the investigations into the incident.

Lacierda said both the Senate and the Philippine National Police-Board of Inquiry (PNP-BOI) released their reports on the incident after extensive investigations.

President Aquino had also spoken on various occasions that he was not given accurate information to make the correct decisions when fighting broke out in the remote Maguindanao town on the morning of Jan. 25 last year.

Nevertheless, the President said he was responsible for all police and military operations being the Chief Executive, Lacierda said.“In the various statements of the President, he has already said as much, that he took responsibility as commander-in-chief, that is not new. That has been stated, but investigations (for the culpability of those behind the deaths) are ongoing,” Lacierda said.

“We must remember that the President has also addressed the concerns not only of the immediate families of the SAF 44 but also the extended families who sought assistance… and we continue to address those concerns,” Lacierda said, referring to the slain Special Action Force members.

Lacierda added the Department of Justice also came out with a report and had filed charges against those allegedly responsible for the killing of the SAF 44.Lacierda said the decision to reopen the investigation was legislative but “the people involved have all testified before the Senate inquiry.”

“I am not sure what more we can contribute. It has been the Cabinet members, PNP personnel, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel have all cooperated. They have given their testimonies,” he said.

                ***

Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday announced the Senate would reopen the Mamasapano probe on Jan. 25, citing the need of some lawmakers, including Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, to clarify some issues.

Enrile was reported as saying he has information different from the details established during the first Senate hearings. He said he gathered new evidence from some survivors, whom he met during his confinement in the PNP General Hospital at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Enrile was placed under hospital arrest on graft charges for the pork barrel scam pending before the Office of the Ombudsman. He later managed to post bail.Poe had said the reopening of inquiry would not affect the previous findings under Committee Report No. 120 which found President Aquino “ultimately responsible” for the deaths of the 44 police commandos.

Almost 400 police commandos had swooped down before dawn in the operation to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and local confederate Basit Usman in the remote village of Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

But after killing Marwan, the SAF commandos were ambushed by heavily armed Muslim rebels and villagers.A total of 44 policemen were killed and 12 others were wounded in the attack. Eighteen rebels and five civilians were also killed.

Operation Plan Exodus went haywire after operatives supposedly failed to coordinate properly with the military, as then SAF commander Chief Supt. GetulioNapeñas’ plea for reinforcement was apparently ignored by his military counterparts.

Both the Senate and the BOI reports found the President ultimately responsible for the incident but Aquino disputed these, saying his side of the story must also be considered.Malacañang maintained that Aquino did not break the chain of command nor could he be held liable for command responsibility as the BOI stated because the PNP, being a civilian organization, need not follow such a rule and that he was commander-in-chief only of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.