Iloilo City labor groups to help ensure fraud-free polls
Labor groups in Iloilo City vowed to take part in ensuring a fraud-free May 10 election by forming the Workers Electoral Watch (WE Watch).
Launched last Saturday, WE Watch is implemented by the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research, Inc. (EILERI) and was technically supported by the Computer Professional Union (CPU).
“We in the Philippine labor sector are not against the automation of this important tool of governance, nor are we traditionalists rejecting technological advancement in the country’s political institutions,” Romeo De Vera, education officer of EILER conveyed the message of Joselito Natividad, lead convenor of WE Watch.
“What we are against is the precipitate manner with which the automated election system (AES) is being deployed, and the propagation of the falsehood that automation in itself reduces or even eliminate electoral fraud,” he added.
Natividad, according to De Vera, said that it has too long that the labor sector has been a mute witness to foul machinations that resurrect themselves every election. With some 75% of the current electorate belonging to the laboring strata of Philippine society either as formal or as informal, the labor sector presents a huge potential in the popular advocacy of ensuring the integrity of the upcoming elections.
WE Watch will educate workers-voters on the AES and its vulnerabilities as well as conduct its own monitoring of fraud through the use of readily available technology among Filipinos which is the cellular phone.
What makes WE Watch different from other election watchdogs is because of its continuous monitoring that will start before, during and after the elections according to De Vera.
“After gathering a body of evidence on the implementation of the AES, we will make public our findings, assist in the necessary prosecution of fraud perpetrators and put forward policy recommendations to the Philippine government and the international community regarding electoral fraud and automation,” De Vera noted.
Since the Commission on Election (COMELEC) had only recognized the Parish Pastoral Counsel for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), De Vera said that WE Watch will be under the Legal Network for Truthful Election (LENTE) which is now on the process of filing its accreditation from the COMELEC.
De Vera explained that WE Watch is a network composed of different union leaders and organization and that they expect maximum participation of labor sectors in this endeavor. However, he said they also welcome the participation of other sector especially of the youth.
He said they identified 12 areas as center of focus with 360 volunteers to be mobilized in every area. The 12 areas include the Metro Manila, Metro Davao, Metro Cebu, Metro Baguio, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Subic (Olongapo City), Bacolod City and Iloilo City.
De Vera, during the launching gave orientation on the automated electoral process to the participants coming different organizations that include the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), KAISOG, PLDT, Young Christian Workers, COURAGE, Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital, Barangay Officials and workers coming from the Call Center sector.
