2007 Philippine mid-term Elections
The voting is on Monday, May 14, 2007. There are almost 46,000 candidates vying for nearly 18,000 political positions in congress and in local governments.
A nation-wide gun-ban has been in effect since January 14, 2007, which was imposed by the CommElect (The Commission on Elections), and it ends on June 14, 2007, a month after the elections. When I asked why the gun-ban did not end immediately after the elections, I was told it was because a lot of people would be mad about the election results.
There is also a two-day nation-wide alcohol ban, on May 13 and May 14, 2007, so that people will be sobered up and hopefully well behaved during the elections.
May 19th, 2007 at 10:44
I first realised that there were upcoming elections about two months ago, when I noticed election posters appearing on every coconut tree on my early morning exercise route. As I mostly exercise on forest paths, the only creatures likely to see these, apart from myself, were carabaos, snakes and lizards. Perhaps the person responsible had shares in the local paper manufacturer.
A military checkpoint was set up fifty metres from my house in Balangiga about two weeks ago. One man was caught carrying dynamite on his motorcycle and held in prison overnight. However, he turned out to be a dynamite fisherman, intending to blow up the reef and a few fish, rather than people. About three nights before the election I saw a dozen soldiers rushing to the checkpoint. They told me they had received intelligence that a van containing explosives was to approach their checkpoint and be detonated. Thank God nothing happened, but the disinformation probably achieved its purpose in distracting the soldiers from other duties.
For days before the election I heard local people discussing what they were going to do with their “hokips.” For the uninitiated “hokips” is a Warai Warai word meaning money received for selling votes. Most people here sell their votes for “hokips.” Candidates for Councillor or Board Member were paying P20 or P50 per vote, candidates for Congress P400. In total my neighbours received about P2000 each. One Board Member candidate was handing out P20 notes with stickers printed with his name attached to them. My son was delighted to accept one over our front gate, he told me that he would keep it to prove to classmates that even kanos (americanos-
everyone who is white) could collect “hokips.” Mind you, payments here seem small compared to a purported P5000 per vote being offered by a candidate up the road in Guiuan.
I had to make preparations for the election myself. Election day was the normal delivery day of my local San Miguel agent, but the sale of alcohol on election day is illegal here. However, he kindly agreed to deliver my two crates of San Mig Lite the night before. My wife stocked up with fish before the election because “hokips” are far more lucrative than fishing at election time.
Shenanigans on election day itself were remarkable. I witnessed supporters of candidates standing on soapboxes, looking through windows at the nearest polling station to try to ensure that people voted according to how they had been paid. I heard of “hokips” being paid inside polling stations and of voters being denied entry to polling stations by supporters of candidates they opposed.
Any of you who believe that Elvis is still alive and that the moon landing never happened would feel at home here. Three days before the election a helicopter landed at our local school. I have been told that it delivered P2.6 million to be used for the campaign of a candidate for national office. This candidate lost and I heard that most of these funds were diverted by a successful candidate for local office. The successful candidate is apparently concerned about possible repercussions.
The final election results are not likely for some weeks yet, so I am preparing myself for yet more revelations.