COURAGE PARTYLIST TO COMELEC: DON’T BE A GRINCH, ALLOW US TO RUN IN 2010

Submitted by courage_phil on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 03:10.

Members
of COURAGE Partylist picketed today the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to demand
the release of the poll body’s decision before the long holiday break.
Government employees from various agencies also joined the protest action to
show their support for the partylist that seeks to represent them in Congress.

Instead
of holding their Christmas party in fancy restaurants, COURAGE Partylist opted
to hold their simple gathering in front of the COMELEC office. They also
serenaded the COMELEC officials and employees with Christmas carols to urge them
to grant the government employees wish to let their genuine representation run
in the 2010 elections.

The
group feared that the COMELEC is deliberately delaying its resolution to
jeopardize their bid for the 2010 elections. Its National President Ferdinand
Gaite likened the Commissioners to the ‘Grinch who stole’ the Christmas of groups
and individuals with pure and noble intentions. “The COMELEC is robbing the
Filipino people their right to alternative politics. Lahat na lang ng mga tatakbo na nagsusulong ng pagbabago ay na-disqualify
na nila,” stated Gaite.

Meanwhile,
COURAGE Partylist hit the proposal of COMELEC and the Department of National
Defense (DND) to expand the military’s role in the elections by allowing them
to escort candidates and poll paraphernalia. Gaite claimed that this will just
legalize the employment of the uniformed men as private armies for powerful
political clans. “The AFP has yet to clear its involvement in the alleged
massive fraud in the 2004 elections which ensured the win for then-presidential
aspirant, Mrs. Arroyo. If we will allow this, it would be an utter disregard
for the lessons that history has taught us,” emphasized Gaite.

The
militant partylist also encouraged first-time voters to maximize the extended
registration period. “We also challenge the COMELEC to address the issues
raised by new registrants such as incompetent election officers and chaotic
registration system,” Gaite ended. #