There’s a troubling pattern in Lintang Bedol’s non-appearance in the National Board of Canvassers. Maybe he’s really looking forward for a declaration of failure of elections in Maguindanao?

Maybe to make sure that the cheating will not be caught this time around?

It is really hard to take on an entire system by yourself.

Ask Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.

Hailed by almost everyone as a good appointment to the discredited Commission on Elections, everyone expects him to bring credibility to an organization that has none (the same is said of Brawner and Ferrer – oh boy we are wrong).

At first I was afraid that he was appointed just for that – to bring credibility. The actions of that commission, however, show us that it is too much for one man to take on a bureacracy.

The warning signs were there. First, he was assigned to be in charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao a month before the elections. Second, the Garci lieutenants were in place even before he could say “Bulaga”. Then, when charges of fraud in Maguindanao were raised, he was made head of the task force that will investigate the matter. And there’s the special elections in Lanao del Sur.

He should have seen the sandbags falling. He was given a loaded gun, and he didn’t know the bullet was for him.

Now, to “cap” his stint, he threw himself in the mud with his sad reaction to a news footage by ABS-CBN News showing blank election returns being transported to a hotel 1.5 kilometers away from Marawi City. By denying and then changing his mind, Sarmiento has tarnished his reputation.

Was everything a setup? Based on his initial reaction, he doesn’t know what’s going on. But the next one was pathetic. He knew by then that the system is working against him; instead of footing his foot down, he crumbled.

It can be said that it is a good thing he doesn’t know; at least, when he retires, he can say that he is not part of it. Unfortunately, ignorance is never a great excuse.

I cannot help but feel sorry for Sarmiento. Here is probably one good man defeated by a well-entrenched system. It is really hard for one man to take against an entire system.

—

We learned a lot of things from this episode. It seems that what happened in Lanao del Sur (the failure of elections in 13 towns, the special elections) happened for a reason. Whether it is to discredit one man (highly unlikely) or to make cheating possible (highly likely), the solution to the problem resides in the people in Mindanao.

MNLF and MILF people are clamoring for independence from the Philippines. The reason they failed is that they are barking at the wrong tree. They should free themselves from the culture and the warlords instead.

Also, it seems that Mindanao is not politically ready for autonomy. The political culture is not conducive for democracy.

We (here in Luzon) cannot do anything about the problem in Mindanao. What we can do is to tell our leaders here in Luzon to stop exploiting the kinks in Mindanao’s culture.

The real reason why I have decided to blog out-of-cycle is this news.

When I arrived home last night, my brother informed me that Team Unity seeks to have the votes in some cities and towns (including several cities and towns in Metro Manila) recanvassed. And earlier today I saw the report on TV, with Tonypet Albano, the eager-to-go-to-war senatorial candidate Miguel Zubiri, and Reli German in a press conference.

All I can say is this: Tonypet Albano is Rabadash the Ridiculous of the Philippines; he is making a donkey out of himself.

This statement from the news report states it all: Albano said a retabulation of CoCs would further delay the proclamation of winners.

Let’s dissect his ridiculous statements:

* “We’re just doing to them what they are doing to us. They are questioning how we swept Maguindanao. So we will also question them how they swept us in their bailiwicks like Makati and General Santos City.” Heck, Mr. Albano, the opposition has questioned the sweep in Maguindanao a week ago, when the “canvassing” in that province was “completed”. But you and your team, Mr. Albano, why now, only now, when the CoCs for these areas were already canvassed by Comelec? Unless, of course, the only goal is to delay the inevitable.

Besides, Namfrel has counted the votes in the areas Rabadash has mentioned, and there were no reported discrepancies.

* “If the Comelec granted the GO’s appeal, I don’t see why we should not be granted the same.” What appeal? The CoC in Maguindano was deferred because (1) Lintang Bedol failed to appear, and (2) the problems pointed out were too grave. The comment made by Bedol regarding allowing minors to vote does not help matters to your favor, Mr. Albano. Besides, even Namfrel has doubts about Maguindanao, so doubtful are the results that they have decided not to include Maguindanao in their quickcount. Again, the only obvious goal is to delay the impending victory of the opposition in the Senate race.

The petition for declaring a failure of elections in several cities and towns in Metro Manila is ridiculous. If Comelec grants the ridiculous petition, it should also declare a failure of elections in Maguindanao, in Lanao del Sur, in Davao. We might as well call for another, nationwide elections. That’s how ridiculous Albano is.

To anwer MLQ3‘s question, it is a delaying tactic. Maybe they are not yet finished tinkering down south.

Seeing the winners of this year’s congressional race, the more I am convinced that for the opposition to truly win the war (so to speak), it must win both houses of Congress (as I have called for here and here). Getting both houses removes all the ambiguity of having two houses severely opposite to each other. Also, getting the Lower House means Gloria Arroyo will get her chance at clearing her much-maligned name. With everyone concentrating on the Senate, the House remains in administration hands. (Kudos to the Black and White Movement for attempting to campaign for an opposition House via their Black List/White List.)

Anyway, here is a partial list of winners (from ABS-CBN):

Mandaluyong City – Neptali Gonzales II, Lakas-CMD
Makati City
1st District – Teodoro Locsin Jr., PDP-Laban
2nd District – Mar-len Abigail Binay, PDP-Laban
San Juan – Ronaldo Zamora, PMP
Valenzuela City
1st District – Rexlon Gatchalian, NPC
2nd District – Magtanggol Gunigundo III, LP
Las Piñas – Cynthia Villar, NP
Pasig City – Roman Romulo, Kampi
Pasay – Jose Antonio F. Roxas, LDP
Paranaque City
1st District – Eduardo Zialcita, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Roilo Golez, Kampi
Quezon City
1st District – Vincent P. Crisologo, Lakas- CMD
2nd District – Mary Ann Rosa Susano, Lakas – CMD
3rd District – Matias V. Defensor, Jr., LP
4th District – Nanette C. Daza, Lakas-CMD
Caloocan City
1st District – Oscar Malapitan, NP
2nd District – Mary Mitzi Lim Cajayon, LP
Muntinlupa City – Rozzano Rufino Biazon, LP
Marikina City –
1st District – Marcelino R. Teodoro, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Del R. De Guzman, LP
Manila
1st District – Benjamin D. Asilo, PDP-Laban
2nd District – Jaime C. Lopez, Lakas-CMD
3rd District – Ma. Zenaida B. Angping, NPC
4th District – Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David, Kampi
5th District – Amado S. Bagatsing, Kampi
6th District – Bienvenido M. Abante, Lakas-CMD-LP
Taguig City
1st District – Ma. Laarni Cayetano, NP
2nd District – Henry Dueñas, Jr., Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig
Malabon City-Navotas – Alvin Sandoval
Ilocos Norte
1st District – Roque Ablan Jr., Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Ferdinand Marcos Jr., KBL
Ilocos Sur
1st District – Ronald V. Singson, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Eric D. Singson, Lakas-CMD
La Union
1st District – Victor Francisco Ortega, Lakas – CMD
2nd District – Thomas Dumpit Jr, Kampi
Pangasinan
1st District – Arthur Del Fierro Celeste, Kampi
2nd District – Victor Aguedo Elizaga Agbayani, Lakas-CMD
3rd District – Rachel Arenas, Lakas – CMD
4th District – Jose de Venecia Jr., Lakas – CMD
5th District – Marcos Cojuangco, NPC
6th District – Conrado Estrella III, NPC
Batanes – Carlo Oliver D. Diasnes
Isabela – Georgidi Aggabao, UNO
Quirino – Lone District – Junie Cua, LP
Nueva Vizcaya – Carlos M. Padilla,
Aurora – Juan Edgardo M. Angara, LDP
Bataan
1st District – Herminia Batista-Roman, Lakas – CMD
2nd District – Albert Garcia, Kampi
Bulacan
2nd District – Pedro M. Pancho,
4th District – Reylina C. Nicolas
Pampanga
1st District- Carmelo Lazatin, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Juan Miguel Arroyo, Lakas – CMD
3rd District – Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Kampi
4th District – Anna York Bondoc, NP
Nueva Ecija
1st District – Eduardo Nonato Joson, BALANE
2nd District – Joseph Violago, Lakas-CMD
3rd District – Czarina Umali, Lakas– CMD
4th District – Rodolfo W. Antonino, Kampi- BALANE-TU Coalition
Tarlac
1st District – Monica Louise Prieto Teodoro,
2nd District – Jose Villa Agustin Yap
3rd District – Jecsi Lapus
Zambales
1st District – Ma. Milagros A. Magsaysay
2nd District – Antonio Diaz
Batangas
1st District – Elenita Ermita Buhain
2nd district – Hermilando Mandanas
3rd District – Victoria Reyes
4th District – Mark Leandro Mendoza
Cavite
1st District – Jose Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, LP
2nd district – Elpidio Barzaga, Kampi
3rd District – Jesus Crispin Remulla, Lakas-CMD
Quezon
1st District – Mark Enverga,Kampi-ME
2nd district – Proceso Alcala, LP
3rd District – Danilo Suarez, Kampi
4th District – Lorenzo Tañada III, LP
Rizal
1st District – Jack Duavit, NPC
2nd District – Adelina Rodriguez,
Antipolo City – Roberto “Robbie” Puno, Kampi
Palawan
1st District – Antonio C. Alvarez,Kampi
2nd district – Abraham Kalil B. Mitra, NPC
Occidental Mindoro – Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa,Kampi
Oriental Mindoro
1st District – Rodolfo G. Valencia,Lakas-CMD
2nd district – Alfonso V. Umali, Jr.,LP
Marinduque – Carmencita Reyes
Romblon – Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Lakas-CMD
Camarines Sur
1st District – Diosdado Arroyo, Kampi
2nd District – Luis Villafuerte, Kampi
3rd District – Arnulfo Fuentebella, NPC
4th District – Felix Alfelor Jr., Kampi
Camarines Norte – Liwayway Chato, LP
Masbate
1st District – Narciso Bravo Jr., PDSP
2nd District – Antonio Kho, Lakas – CMD
3rd District – Rizalina Seachon Lanete, NPC
Catanduanes – Joseph Santiago, NPC
Sorsogon
1st District – Salvador Escudero III, NPC
2nd District – Jose Solis, Kampi
Albay
1st District – Edcel Lagman
2nd District – Al Francis Bichara, Nacionalista Party
3rd District – Reno G. Lim
Aklan – Florencio Miraflores, LP
Capiz
1st District – Antonio del Rosario, LP
2nd District – Fredenil H. Castro, LP
Iloilo City – Raul Gonzalez Jr., Lakas-CMD
Iloilo
1st District – Janette Garin, Lakas – CMD
2nd District – Judy Syjuco, LP
Negros Occidental
1st District – Julio Ledesma IV, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Alfredo Marañon III, Kampi
3rd District – Carlos Lacson, Lakas-CMD-UNA
4th District – Jeffrey Ferrer, NPC
5th District – Ignacio Arroyo Jr., Kampi-UNA
6th District – Genaro Alvarez, NPC-UNA
Bacolod City – Monico Puentevella, Lakas-CMD
Cebu City
1st District – Raul del Mar,Lakas-CMD-BOPK
2nd District – Antonio Cuenco,Lakas-CMD-BOPK
Cebu
1st District – Eduardo Gullas
2nd District – Pablo Garcia
3rd District – Pablo John Garcia
Mandaue City – Nerissa Soon Ruiz
Negros Oriental
1st District – Jocelyn Limkaichong, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – George Arnaiz, NPC
3rd District – Henry Pryde Teves, Lakas-CMD
Siquijor – Orlando Fua Sr., LDP
Biliran – Glenn Chong,LP
Samar
1st District – Reynaldo Uy,Lakas-LP
2nd District – Sharee Ann Tan, Kampi
Eastern Samar – Teodolo Coquilla, PMP
Northern Samar
1st District – Paul Daza, LP
2nd District – Emil Ong, Kampi
Leyte
1st District – Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Kampi
2nd District – Trinidad Go Apostol
3rd District – Andres Dalde Salvacion, Jr
4th District – Eufrocino C. Codilla
5th District – Carmen L. Cari
Southern Leyte – Roger Mercado, Lakas-CMD
Zamboanga del Norte
1st District – Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon, Kampi
2nd District – Rosendo Labadlabad, Lakas-CMD
3rd District – Cesar Jalosjos, Kampi
Zamboanga del Sur
1st District – Victor Yu, Independent
2nd District – Antonio Cerilles, NPC
Zamboanga Sibugay
1st District – Belma Cabilao, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Dulce Ann Hofer
Cagayan de Oro City
1st District – Rolando Uy
2nd District – Rufus B. Rodriguez
Bukidnon
1st District – Candido Pancrudo Jr. Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Teofisto Guingona III, NP
3rd District – Jose Ma. Zubiri III, Lakas-CMD
Camiguin – Pedro Romualdo, Lakas-CMD
Misamis Occidental
1st District – Marina Clarete, Kampi
2nd District – Hermina Ramiro, Lakas-CMD
Misamis Oriental
1st District – Danilo Lagbas, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Yevgeny Vicente Emano, Lakas-CMD
Compostela Valley
1st District – Manuel E. Zamora, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Rommel C. Amatong, Lakas-CMD
Davao del Norte
1st District – Arrel R. Olaño, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Lakas-CMD
Davao del Sur
1st District – Marc Douglas Cagas IV, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Franklin Bautista, Kampi
Davao Oriental
1st District – Nelson Dayanghirang, Independent
2nd District – Thelma Z. Almario, Independent
Sarangani – Erwin Chiongbian – Lakas-CMD
South Cotabato
1st District – Darlene Antonino-Custodio, NPC-AIM
2nd District – Arthur Pingoy, NPC
Sultan Kudarat
1st District – Pax Mangudadatu, Kampi
Agusan del Norte
1st District – Jose Aquino II, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Edelmiro Amante, Kampi
Agusan del Sur – Rodolfo Gallido Plaza, NPC
Surigao del Sur
1st District – Philip A. Pichay, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Florencio C. Garay, UNO
Dinagat Islands – Glenda B. Ecleo, Lakas-CMD
Maguindanao – Simeon Datumanong, Lakas-CMD
Sulu
1st District – Yusop Jikiri, Lakas-CMD
2nd District – Munir Arbison, Lakas-CMD
Shariff Kabunsuan – Didagen Dilangalen, Independent
Tawi-Tawi – Lone District – Nur Jaafar, Lakas-CMD
Baguio City – Mauricio G. Domogan,
Mt. Province – Victor Dominguez, Independent
Benguet – Samuel Dangwa, Lakas-CMD

Based on the list, here is the breakdown:

Lakas-CMD: 57
Kampi: 30
LP: 18 (both wings)
NPC: 17
Independent: 5
NP: 5
LDP: 4
PDP-Laban: 3
UNO: 2 (Those who list themselves as UNO with another party are excluded from this count)

NOTES:
1. In order for Luis Villafuerte to wrest the speaker’s seat away from Jose de Venecia, he needs to get all Kampi votes, plus those from its Coalition allies.
2. This list does not reflect the areas where Coalition allies fought and beat each other.
3. If you know the party affiliation of those winners with no parties listed after their names, please leave a comment (list the name and the party).

(With apologies to MLQ3’s Congressmen of the Caribbean and that movie.)

The pirates of the House of Reprehensibles have begun their intramurals. What does this mean? Three views:

* The Philippine Experience thinks its payback time.
* Uniffors believes its all about the money (or the jockeying for key positions).
* Atty. Punzi thinks it’s all for show.

I always believed that the Kampi raid on Lakas CMD was more on insurance. Again, we return to 2005, back when Gloria Arroyo almost fled the Fortress by the Pasig. Back when everyone wanted her to resign, Lakas CMD stalwarts Fidel Ramos and Jose de Venecia propped her up, in exchange for her support for Charter Change.

But she is a wily politician, and she knows the Ramos-de Venecia support is conditional. And she knew that Chacha Choochoo train was doomed even before it left the station. She needs majority support in the House to make sure an impeachment will not prosper. So if she chose not to support Chacha, she will lose Lakas.

Hence, the Kampi raid on Lakas CMD.

And now, as Luis Villafuerte flexes Kampi to wrest away the speaker’s seat from de Venecia, are we going to see the end of the Rainbow Coalition?

The fact that Villafuerte et al are jockeying for position means they have the numbers. My question is this: why settle for getting committees when you can get the speaker’s seat? Unless, of course, Villafuerte is bluffing.

When you negotiate, you always make sure you have the upper hand. If you don’t, you bluff. You lose if the opponent has better cards. I see Villafuerte as a veteran political player. I do not think he is bluffing. Kampi must have the numbers.

On another plane, maybe Kampi is sounding out for possible allies within the Coalition, trying to find out if it can get the numbers to install a Kampi for speaker. Again, a dangerous gamble.

Do you still want a unicameral parliament where these buffoons will sit as, er, poker players?

An email is circulating, alleging the reasons why many wanted to be a senator, even thanking Miriam Santiago for her candidness. I wonder no one’s spamming about the pirates of the Batasan. Makes you wonder.

UPDATE: It seems it’s too early to speculate. This news report makes things more unclear.

Saturday being the special elections day in Lanao del Sur, I opened the TV for news.

Channel 2: Regular programming.
Channel 7: Regular programming.
ANC: Regular programming.

After the two big TV stations’ marathon coverage of May 14 (2 days almost), they did not even bother having live points at Lanao del Sur and hourly updates (except on ANC). Heck, even DZMM TeleRadyo did not have live updates. I was very much disappointed.

The thirteen towns of Lanao del Sur is said to be worth 90,000 votes, so the special elections are crucial for the last three positions in the Senate race. View the Comelec tally this lunch time and see what I mean.

Yet the TV news organizations only paid lip service in their coverage of the special elections. Yes, ANC had live updates, but at best their coverage was a mess (via MLQ3). Was it so much for ABS-CBN to have a live news van at Lanao del Sur? It was jarring to view those video showing confusion and riot while Ricky Carandang was reporting on something else.

Panig sa bayan. Serbisyong totoo. Words that a true traditional politician would say in a campaign sortie. Disappointment to people who wanted information.

—

MLQ3’s column for today is again, wacky. And I hope he has a good lawyer. Zooberry might sue him for libel.