Publication date: 11-05-2013
More than 30 foreign observers are currently in the country to check the Philippines mid-term elections.
Organized by the compact for peaceful and democratic elections (Compact), the foreign observers attended the formal launch of their mission, called "International Team Bantay," in Quezon City on Friday.
The observers come from Sweden, Denmark, the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Compact national coordinator Arnold Tarrobago said the observers will be divided into six teams and broadcast to Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Cebu, Pampanga, and the autonomous region for Muslim Mindanao.
Assessment of the reforms
"Many of them are interested in seeing the political developments since the election of the President [Benigno] Aquino. They want to assess the reforms set by the President and how they will affect the midterm elections, "said Tarrobago.
"Because President Aquino was elected under the banner of reform, because many of the observers to see if this will not affect the current conduct of elections will have," he added.
Tarrobago said that since the mid-term elections seen largely as a referendum on the incumbent Government, the observers are also enthusiastic about looking at how local and senatorial contests will play under this Government.
"I think it's also important to look at how the current policy moves of the Administration will be affected by the elections. The senatorial elections will have a greater effect than the local races or the other way around? "He said.
Iconic games
Tarrobago also noted that certain "iconic" electoral contests the importance of foreign observers. He called the Governor races between Ed Panlilio and Lilia Pineda in Pampanga, Leni Robredo and Nelly Villafuerte in Camarines Sur, and father Leo Casas and the Kho and Lanete clans in Masbate, among others.
"These local races are very important in our political history. It is a competition between the perceived as carrying a reformist platform and candidates seen as belonging to long time political families, "he said.
"The observers are curious as to how local form to the political culture of the people in the area can give," Tarrobago added.
Compact said the observers 10-day mission will include a general orientation, press briefing and monitoring the local elections.
"They will continue for five days, including the day of the elections, in the local areas. Prior to the election, the international observers are given a thorough orientation on the local political situation and be accompanied by the local host organizations in conducting interviews with the various political players and election stakeholders, "said Tarrobago.
Experience sharing
Local press briefings will also be conducted to announce the mission and later in the present preliminary comments and recommendations.
After the elections the international observers back to Manila for "experience sharing" and collective crafting of the audit report. The report of the Mission of observers will be presented to the public in General, and the relevant public bodies, as well as the diplomatic corps.
First convened in 2004, is Compact with a consortium of non-governmental and civil society organisations objectives respond to the increasing incidence of election-related violence, allegedly committed by both State and nonstate actors.
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