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Election 2016 coverage: mishaps, live updates

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines – The long wait is finally over. All the propagandas, advertisements, miting de avance promises, even the bashings and online altercations of all the netizens will be put to rest today as the National Elections kicked-off this Monday morning, May 9, 2016. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIpqCGZwgI9N0orMmotgP3tmyvdfKHE8F2Ql9ivHVrO_E6uiOe3HgI9Gp9K0uWH4umnWv2YKezy2WOxHMPsbaFKbNQkNxx2g3kkaU_3PJ5ggYNAjOKgJ_2IrRtdOiufBvNchvC6DGVRon/s1600/thesummitexpress-election-2016-coverage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Election 2016 mishaps coverage" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIpqCGZwgI9N0orMmotgP3tmyvdfKHE8F2Ql9ivHVrO_E6uiOe3HgI9Gp9K0uWH4umnWv2YKezy2WOxHMPsbaFKbNQkNxx2g3kkaU_3PJ5ggYNAjOKgJ_2IrRtdOiufBvNchvC6DGVRon/s1600/thesummitexpress-election-2016-coverage.png" title="Election 2016 mishaps coverage" /></a></div> Blood spills at dawn The COMELEC along with PNP and AFP assured that they are all on standby to ensure a peaceful elections all over the country. But, few hours before the commencement of the historical event in Rosario Cavite, 7 supporters of Mayor Jose Ricafrente were all shot dead. Cavite PNP found 1 bullet hole in a black SUV where they claimed to be the victims’ vehicle. Sadly, the bodies were all laid flat facing the ground and have gun shots in the head which means that the victims were summarily executed. Cavite Police has yet to declare this shooting incident as an election-related violence. But Mayor Ricafrente is firm in his stand that this killing is politacally motivated. In Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province, a grenade blasted in front of a polling precint where one civilian died followed by a break-in and stealing of VCMs (Vote Counting Machines) by 20 plus armed and un-identified men. The authority is still tracking down the culprits while the registered voters in that community still wait for the replacements VCMs and go-signal from the COMELEC to resume the election. Aside from the violent incidents in this election-hot-spot province, some minors aged 14-16 were caught casting their votes. The BEIs defended that the minors’ names are in the voters list and a valid reason for them to hand ballots to the group of youth. Cops nab vote buyer in Leyte Meanwhile in Leyte, Police officers were forced to apprehend a man who allegedly buying votes in exchange for cash. The policemen also confiscated sample ballots with Liberal Party candidates printed on them and some cash that will serve as legitimate evidences against the suspect. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasbi3bdO6zfCEsXslblpcEY5p5oXN8vpJzjuwoLIL6qI7ZLjJY3wvy4L7rb8Mgv_P3bQr9gZr7Bjn4BMh7628R4x8W9zinj4uUuMonh4SJbHr-hHILzdyJTCUY30SVHYQ1JYeIf0RhiYO/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cops nab vote buyer in Leyte" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasbi3bdO6zfCEsXslblpcEY5p5oXN8vpJzjuwoLIL6qI7ZLjJY3wvy4L7rb8Mgv_P3bQr9gZr7Bjn4BMh7628R4x8W9zinj4uUuMonh4SJbHr-hHILzdyJTCUY30SVHYQ1JYeIf0RhiYO/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-1.jpg" title="Cops nab vote buyer in Leyte" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNOc46NR32YaFziO4gp5URFoFS8fjxbx1n25H-DdH1brvsAncyly95n_j8EFMOY273qbo4XmaKP7cWQnZ2_Y7y57b-raTFR3jGhHtZezVbtWC7RA4hovU1NtVH0-7FxEhybTptDy7dOLR/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cops nab vote buyer in Leyte" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNOc46NR32YaFziO4gp5URFoFS8fjxbx1n25H-DdH1brvsAncyly95n_j8EFMOY273qbo4XmaKP7cWQnZ2_Y7y57b-raTFR3jGhHtZezVbtWC7RA4hovU1NtVH0-7FxEhybTptDy7dOLR/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-2.jpg" title="Cops nab vote buyer in Leyte" /></a></div> VCMs fail to deliver Just like the previous elections, non-working and malfunctioning VCMs are still the most common issues that frustrate some voters. In the precints of Sen. Chiz Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago for example, the machines were rejecting the ballots that caught the attention of the Vice-presidential aspirant. Sorsogon, Masbate, Saranggani Province, Zamboanga, Quezon City, Pasig and San Juan are just some of the key areas in the country that experienced VCM failure. But the COMELEC has standby technicians and back-up VCMs as their contengencies to assure the people of a succesful election. COMELEC Warns public about election-related-crimes Text messages were circulating which states that there are 20 Million pre-programmed ballots were intentionally distributed in various precints nationwide which allegedly favors administration-standard-bearer Mar Roxas. COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista and Spokesman James Jimenez frankly denied the issue and boldly addressed the media that the pink-lined-pre-programmed ballots are non-existent. PPCRV also backed-up Bautista and Jimenz’s statement. COMELEC bosses warned the public that sharing of text messages that mislead the people with ill-informations is a serious election crime. Speaking of election crimes, taking actual photos of the shaded ballots and taking selfies with them are also considered as an election offense and punishable by law with up to 6 years of imprisonment if tried and proven guilty. In line with this issue, teleserye and rumored teen lovers Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo are now being criticized by netizens for posting photos online while holding their ballots inside the polling precincts. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXESWhHm3_EGjF7hALvgCS1TsGOgKQs8muuirxwBDnjkZsXHAvu2truAKLOj3W-7hNeQsZ_f1u8GHWhfMHOerUdN0y1jFLlHPgOBIXgQUZWt1cRQSu5L85IvbZ1Ms_w-JfpD0Ft7qEKie1/s1600/kathniel-election-selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kathniel election offense" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXESWhHm3_EGjF7hALvgCS1TsGOgKQs8muuirxwBDnjkZsXHAvu2truAKLOj3W-7hNeQsZ_f1u8GHWhfMHOerUdN0y1jFLlHPgOBIXgQUZWt1cRQSu5L85IvbZ1Ms_w-JfpD0Ft7qEKie1/s1600/kathniel-election-selfie.jpg" title="Kathniel election offense" /></a></div> The controversial photo of Kathryn was traced from ABS-CBN’s twitter account via Gretchen Fullido. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJP7KsbvuBV5bTToperGSrgf2HIWkiWGcFSe7UvUqq0A0cgmOTWqtOyEq0QRgUQYk9deFxd3iXtVMTOsb-1kcsoER__6bfWqyF8aOEdSMay_UkB0AZaUpi04ujcl4gYVn92s6lBMXU9oQ/s1600/election-fiasco-2016-6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comelec election fiasco KathNiel" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJP7KsbvuBV5bTToperGSrgf2HIWkiWGcFSe7UvUqq0A0cgmOTWqtOyEq0QRgUQYk9deFxd3iXtVMTOsb-1kcsoER__6bfWqyF8aOEdSMay_UkB0AZaUpi04ujcl4gYVn92s6lBMXU9oQ/s1600/election-fiasco-2016-6.png" title="Comelec election fiasco KathNiel" /></a></div> Minutes after it went viral and gained different negtive reactions from the netizens, the post was removed. Wasted votes Aside from the malfunctioning and non-working VCMs, voting precints located on upper floors became burdens for the senior citizens and PWDs. Obviously struggling to get into their respective precints due to their physical situations, majority of the elederly and disabled voters had decided to leave and go home instead. Missing names in the precints is also a major problem for many voters. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRg_XwxDYohMn2-XDdnt5YSioDbVjzOxiLYAB-qcSZkRLE5vUcd3W8TMF9dXMWsKoayg1v00b6OH8siwvVY260vBCBOWk9z-YHX7aD0QpsJhbp-EbmHltMNIZ3kj3QhhKZJp2gjCqiPKt/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="election fiasco 2016" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRg_XwxDYohMn2-XDdnt5YSioDbVjzOxiLYAB-qcSZkRLE5vUcd3W8TMF9dXMWsKoayg1v00b6OH8siwvVY260vBCBOWk9z-YHX7aD0QpsJhbp-EbmHltMNIZ3kj3QhhKZJp2gjCqiPKt/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-3.png" title="election fiasco 2016" /></a></div> Many people who arrived in the voting venue and endured the long queu lines as early as 5am ended up disappointed because they were not allowed to vote as their names are not displayed in their appointed precints. COMMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez gave an explanation on this matter. According to Jimenez, there are just two reasons why the voters name are not displayed in the precints; either the person failed to do the biometrics or has registered twice so the system automatically removed the name under the said cirmustances. Netizens accuse Mar of keeping VCMs COMELEC was alarmed when a Facebook post from various concerned netizen went viral stating that there are some VCMs which are being kept by LP Bet Mar Roxas inside Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JnnFhR-tNbt02e6kxznxxWqOhjSkGLWiuT6tGKrvHtZeTTmGzf8oNwBh5sG7w11XtDd7XrM4HllvYafpb-nIqIGHo8uMY9ebb_Pjsfd3KsHfE-ZoAwVKq8f9tmKqdq187AjHwrp5GQiH/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Netizens accuse Mar of keeping VCMs" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JnnFhR-tNbt02e6kxznxxWqOhjSkGLWiuT6tGKrvHtZeTTmGzf8oNwBh5sG7w11XtDd7XrM4HllvYafpb-nIqIGHo8uMY9ebb_Pjsfd3KsHfE-ZoAwVKq8f9tmKqdq187AjHwrp5GQiH/s1600/election-2016-fiasco-8.jpg" title="Netizens accuse Mar of keeping VCMs" /></a></div> Chairman Bautista wasted no time and immediately hurried to Novotel along with the media folks to investigate the allegations. Bautista failed to see the actual VCMs but confirmed that there are serveral Smartmatic Technicians who are currently checked-in the hotel. He also explained that the National Technical Headquarters of Smartmatic is just a walking distance from Novotel. Past mid-day, PPCRV confirmed that there was another blast happened in Masbate where one candidate died. Masbate has been declared as one of the election hot spots in the country. 5 more hours before the election closes and COMELEC and PPCRV disclose that they are still receiving election-related complaints. The Summit Express will be on stand by to bring you the latest updates in 2016 National Elections. <center><a rel='nofollow' class="twitter-timeline" data-widget-id="729558674511781888" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Election2016">#Election2016 Tweets</a> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></center> --Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express</div>

Election 2016 coverage: mishaps, live updates

MANILA, Philippines – The long wait is finally over. All the propagandas, advertisements, miting de avance promises, even the bashings and o...

KathNiel takes election 'selfie with ballots,' causes online uproar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines- Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said that he wants to talk with Kapamilya love team Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo (KathNiel) after photos with their ballots spread like wildfire on social media. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7_jM13pK8BIZX2XzhSAK4zE7j19msYddzGlpJsj2xAVndwOXMiIOFniMD7B8FFH-534gafB99e_EuvVFVyNKof3whWO6pqUOFZuQtDqSTedWYvlaLbMbORhJdYhMM0xEaaX8qhewYJHz/s1600/kathniel-election-selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="KathNiel takes election 'selfie with ballots,' causes online uproar" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7_jM13pK8BIZX2XzhSAK4zE7j19msYddzGlpJsj2xAVndwOXMiIOFniMD7B8FFH-534gafB99e_EuvVFVyNKof3whWO6pqUOFZuQtDqSTedWYvlaLbMbORhJdYhMM0xEaaX8qhewYJHz/s1600/kathniel-election-selfie.jpg" title="KathNiel takes election 'selfie with ballots,' causes online uproar" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comelec wants to have dialogue with Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo after photos with ballots circulated online.</td></tr></tbody></table>In the microblogging site Twitter, Jimenez wrote: “Kathryn and Daniel and I need to talk.” <center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">kathryn and daniel and i need to talk <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinas?src=hash">#PiliPinas</a></div>— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/jabjimenez/status/729496371644899332">May 9, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="“utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center> “For those who willingly and obviously, very openly displayed their ballot, we need to talk,” Jimenez said in his interview with PhilStar. Padilla and Bernardo’s photos showing off their unfilled ballots caused online uproar after showbiz reporter Gretchen Fullido shared them on ABS-CBN News social media sites. Netizens have accused the teen king and queen of violating the Comelec rule against taking selfies or photos inside poll places. <center><iframe allowtransparency="“true" frameborder="0" height="484" scrolling="no" src="https://web.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2FMikeAcebedoLopez%2Fposts%2F10156921393150581&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></center> Under Comelec’s rule, voters, watchers and members of the Board of Inspectors (BEIs) are prohibited from taking photos of their ballots and voter’s receipts inside polling precincts on May 9 since this violates the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot. However, citizens may reveal who they voted for on social networking sites since it is not prohibited to reveal the names of the candidates they picked. Those who will be found guilty can face up to 6 years of imprisonment. “As a voter, you can bring a phone with a camera inside the polling place but you cannot use it. As a watcher, you can bring a camera and use it, provided it does not violate the sanctity of the ballot, meaning you cannot take a photo of your official ballot or the voter’s receipt,” Mandaue City Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said. It was not clarified whether journalists or members of the media like Fullido are exempt from Comelec’s rule. Moreover, Bernardo, a known supporter of Roxas-Robredo tandem, was also seen wearing a RoRo baller while voting. Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal pointed out that the baller is a campaign material, which is not allowed to be used inside the precinct. --Mini, The Summit Express</div>

KathNiel takes election 'selfie with ballots,' causes online uproar

MANILA, Philippines- Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said that he wants to talk with Kapamilya love team Daniel...

Metro Manila (NCR) Election 2016 Comelec results: Mayor, Vice Mayor

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) election results - partial and unofficial for Metro Manila (NCR) local elections will be released immediately after the canvassers received initial data from polling precincts today, May 9, 2016. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuftLURoueAIjKZ4VAwPeoDypgSeVmHIpMdtstyk3swzRvr1cQO73CRYVUXMoBTgWZL8i29trATx24npEbpMCLCpnrRwvYBhp5qVJco4_c-aLZ5Cdn0mHSze_f83l1e1V7QfZ-8FeJNfF/s1600/metro-manila-local-election-results-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Metro Manila (NCR) Election 2016 Comelec results: Mayor, Vice Mayor" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuftLURoueAIjKZ4VAwPeoDypgSeVmHIpMdtstyk3swzRvr1cQO73CRYVUXMoBTgWZL8i29trATx24npEbpMCLCpnrRwvYBhp5qVJco4_c-aLZ5Cdn0mHSze_f83l1e1V7QfZ-8FeJNfF/s1600/metro-manila-local-election-results-2016.jpg" title="Metro Manila (NCR) Election 2016 Comelec results: Mayor, Vice Mayor" /></a></div> The Luzon region to include the capital region has 56% share or more than 30 million registered voters. The election 2016 results for NCR's 17 cities and municipalities - Mayoralty and Vice Mayoralty will be available on this page. The vote-rich region of NCR is consists of the following places: <ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Caloocan City</li><li>Las Piñas City</li><li>Makati City</li><li>Malabon City</li><li>Mandaluyong City</li><li>Manila</li><li>Marikina City</li><li>Muntinlupa City</li><li>Navotas City</li><li>Parañaque City</li><li>Pasay City</li><li>Pasig City</li><li>Pateros</li><li>Quezon City</li><li>San Juan City</li><li>Taguig City</li><li>Valenzuela City</li></ul> Note: The Comelec partial results for Metro Manila will posted on this site (Refresh page for the updates). RELATED RESULTS <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a rel='nofollow' href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/05/comelec-pilipinas-election-results-2016-website-now-up.html">Comelec's PiliPinas Election Results 2016 website now up</a></li><li><a rel='nofollow' href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/05/may-2016-election-senatorial-race-comelec-partial-unofficial-results.html">May 2016 Election: Senatorial race Comelec first partial, unofficial results</a></li></ul> Manila is the second most populous area in the Philippines with 1.6 million population in 2010. Among the candidates vying for Mayoralty are Onofre Abad, Amado Bagatsing, Arnaldo "Dodos" Dela Cruz, Joseph Estrada, Edmundo Fuerte, Samuel Gabot, Alfredo Lim, Tranquilino Narca, Francisco Pizzara, Valeriano Reloj and Wilfredo Yusi. For Makati City, will be the first election for incumbent city mayor Romulo "Kid" V. Peña, Jr., who is opposed by Mar-Len Abigail "Abby" S. Binay-Campos, the 2nd District congresswoman. Incumbent Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista will be facing tight competition in the mayoralty elections against Leon Peralta, an advocate against Trapos (traditional politicians) and political dynasty, NGO worker Martin Sanchez, Jr. and radioman Alex Lague. 2016 automated election system (AES) The May 2016 election is the country's third automated polls after the 2010 (presidential) and 2013 (senatorial) polls. When voting close on Monday, the vote counting machines (VCMs) transmit the vote counts – also known as election returns or ERs – to the different servers and canvassing centers in the AES. From the VCMs, the election returns (ERs) are transmitted to the central server, to a transparency server, and to the municipal board of canvassers (MBOC). From the MBOC, the results are transmitted to the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC), where the results are collated and then transmitted to the national board of canvassers (NBOC), where the results for national positions are canvassed. The MBOC and PBOC also separately beam ERs to the central server. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our email list to receive real-time results.</div>

Metro Manila (NCR) Election 2016 Comelec results: Mayor, Vice Mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) election results - partial and unofficial for Metro Manila (NCR) local elections ...

May 2016 Election: Senatorial race Comelec first partial, unofficial results

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) is expected to release the first partial and unofficial election results for senatorial race after it received initial data from polling precincts nationwide today, May 9, 2016. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEqhPk51OOjDksaAnPNQiPQ344yeRxGZhIuO8A-nxizwlu1dYd-kHE8h-RgtHTucIbWAJsub5ruPr6lYlvI4w27F9dpyHDco8kOWCzAAmuVqbLC9pf20NG_JhKM8EHFqalOwg_0uNJdNq/s1600/senatorial-race-partial-unofficial-results.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Senatorial race Comelec first partial, unofficial results" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEqhPk51OOjDksaAnPNQiPQ344yeRxGZhIuO8A-nxizwlu1dYd-kHE8h-RgtHTucIbWAJsub5ruPr6lYlvI4w27F9dpyHDco8kOWCzAAmuVqbLC9pf20NG_JhKM8EHFqalOwg_0uNJdNq/s1600/senatorial-race-partial-unofficial-results.jpg" title="Senatorial race Comelec first partial, unofficial results" /></a></div> The Comelec said that it would only canvass the results for the Senate including the party-list race. The canvassing of votes for the presidential and vice-presidential race is the sole jurisdiction of Congress sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, according to the poll body. The 12 candidates with the highest number of votes on today's election will join the the winners of the 2013 election to form the 17th Congress of the Philippines. The 2016 general election will be the 32nd election for the Senate of the Philippines. Comelec is expecting around 75% voter turnout from 54,363,844 registered voters in what it promises to be the “most transparent” election in recent history. Here's the senatorial Magic 12 based from Comelec partial results (Refresh page for the updates): Updating... READ: <a rel='nofollow' href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/05/comelec-pilipinas-election-results-2016-website-now-up.html">Comelec's PiliPinas Election Results 2016 website now up</a> In the Pulse Asia's recent survey, old-times dominated the race, the Magic 12 were: Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Vicente Sotto III, former senators Francis Pangilinan, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Panfilo Lacson, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva, Sen. Serge Osmeña III, former senator Richard Gordon, former justice secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Ralph Recto and Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian. The same names also appeared on the final SWS survey with Drilon and Sotto hold the top two spots. Meanwhile, here's the official list of Senatorial candidates for 2016 elections as released by COMELEC: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 429px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 10788; mso-width-source: userset; width: 221pt;" width="295"></col> <col 560px="" auto="" max-width:="" style="mso-width-alt: 4900; mso-width-source: userset; width: 101pt;" width:=""></col> </colgroup><tbody><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl66" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">Name</td> <td class="xl66" style="width: 101pt;" width="134">Political Party</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ALBANI, SHARIFF IBRAHIM</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ALI, ALDIN</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">WPPPMM</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ALUNAN, RAFAEL III MORENO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">AMBOLODTO, NARIMAN ABDULLAH</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ARQUIZA, GODOFREDO VILLAR</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">BALIGOD, LEVITO DONIEGO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="34" style="height: 25.5pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="34" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 25.5pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">BELGICA, GRECO ANTONIOUS BEDA BANTA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">BELLO, WALDEN FLORES</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">CAM, SANDRA MARTINEZ</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">PMP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">CHAVEZ, MELCHOR GONGORA</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">WPP/PMM</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">COLMENARES, NERI JAVIER</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">MAKABAYAN</td> </tr><tr height="34" style="height: 25.5pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="34" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 25.5pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">DE LIMA, LEILA NORMA EULALIA JOSEFA MAGISTRADO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">DOMAGOSO, FRANCISCO MORENO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">PMP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">DORONA, RAY</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">DRILON, FRANKLIN MAGTUNAO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">GADON, LORENZO GACILO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">KBL</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">GATCHALIAN, SHERWIN TING</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">NPC</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">GORDON, RICHARD JUICO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">GUINGONA, TEOFISTO III DE LARA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">HONTIVEROS, ANA THERESIA NAVARRO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">AKBAYAN</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">KABALU, MUSTAPHA MAMA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="34" style="height: 25.5pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="34" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 25.5pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">KAPUNAN, LORNA PATAJO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">AKSYON</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">KIRAM, PRINCESS JACEL HICARTE</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="34" style="height: 25.5pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="34" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 25.5pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">LACSAMANA, VENESA MORENO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">LACSON, PANFILO MORENA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">LANGIT, REY MAGAT</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">LAPID, MARK TADEO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">AKSYON</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">LIBAN, DANTE VENTURA</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">MAGANTO, ROMEO BAYLON</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LAKAS CMD</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">MANZANO, EDUARDO BARRIOS</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">MONTANO, ALLAN SABLON</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">MONTAÑO, RAON ENRIQUEZ</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">NAPEÑAS, GETULIO PASCUA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">OPLE, MARIA SUSANA VASQUEZ</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">NP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">OSMEÑA, SERGIO III DE LA RAMA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PACQUIAO, EMMANUEL DAPIDRAN</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">UNA</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PAEZ, CRESENTE CALAGO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PAGDILAO, SAMUEL DULDULAO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PALPARAN, JOVITO JR. SALVAÑA</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PANGILINAN, FRANCIS NEPOMUCENO</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">PETILLA, CARLOS JERICHO LORETO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">RECTO, RALPH GONZALEZ</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">RODRIGUEZ, ROGER ALIM</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ROMUALDEZ, FERDINAND MARTIN GOMEZ</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LAKAS CMD</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ROMULO, ROMAN TECSON</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">SANTIAGO, DIONISIO REYES</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">SOTTO, VICENTE III CASTELO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">NPC</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">TOLENTINO, FRANCIS NG</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">VALEROSO, DIOSDADO</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr><tr height="34" style="height: 25.5pt;"> <td class="xl64" height="34" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 25.5pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">VILLANUEVA, EMMANUEL JOEL JOSE</td> <td class="xl64" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">LP</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td class="xl63" height="20" style="font-stretch: normal; height: 15.0pt; width: 221pt;" width="295">ZUBIRI, JUAN MIGUEL FERNANDEZ</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-stretch: normal; width: 101pt;" width="134">IND</td> </tr></tbody></table> </div>2016 automated election system (AES) The May 2016 election is the country's third automated polls after the 2010 (presidential) and 2013 (senatorial) polls. When voting close on Monday, the vote counting machines (VCMs) transmit the vote counts – also known as election returns or ERs – to the different servers and canvassing centers in the AES. From the VCMs, the election returns (ERs) are transmitted to the central server, to a transparency server, and to the municipal board of canvassers (MBOC). From the MBOC, the results are transmitted to the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC), where the results are collated and then transmitted to the national board of canvassers (NBOC), where the results for national positions are canvassed. The MBOC and PBOC also separately beam ERs to the central server. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our email list to receive real-time results.</div>

May 2016 Election: Senatorial race Comelec first partial, unofficial results

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Election (Comelec) is expected to release the first partial and unofficial election results for sena...

IN PHOTOS: VP Binay, Bongbong Marcos among the first to vote

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The most awaited election day in the country finally arrived. Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. were among the top candidates to cast their votes early Monday, April 9. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybrgBYhJF-UMXkoMUvAXatyr_6ICxAJ8VA58hRWk_DcfOsiFpnrJ38oZZVBJZRTebe4bISEZm-wsSXVJ7ZMiFBboukiz6Yr1X0Mm5NvsMV6EEgj9cKXPUMoUtIRMyyk-CABEeWzdR8P0/s1600/binay-marcos-first-to-vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="VP Binay, Bongbong Marcos among the first to vote" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybrgBYhJF-UMXkoMUvAXatyr_6ICxAJ8VA58hRWk_DcfOsiFpnrJ38oZZVBJZRTebe4bISEZm-wsSXVJ7ZMiFBboukiz6Yr1X0Mm5NvsMV6EEgj9cKXPUMoUtIRMyyk-CABEeWzdR8P0/s1600/binay-marcos-first-to-vote.jpg" title="VP Binay, Bongbong Marcos among the first to vote" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) first to vote among presidential bets; Sen. Bongbong Marcos first to cast for VP. Photo Credit: CNN Philippines (Binay) and Twitter/Bongbong Marcos</td></tr></tbody></table>The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) presidential bet Binay casted his vote at the San Antonio National High School in Makati City a little after 6:00 a.m (opening of precincts). <center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Binay?src=hash">#Binay</a> feeds ballot, reads receipt after voting <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VotePH2016?src=hash">#VotePH2016</a> <a rel='nofollow' href="https://t.co/C8JPhvT9l3">pic.twitter.com/C8JPhvT9l3</a> | <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/MJcayabyabINQ">@MJcayabyabINQ</a></div>— Inquirerdotnet (@inquirerdotnet) <a rel='nofollow' href="https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/729434405559767040">May 8, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center> Meanwhile, Marcos was at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte around six in the morning. <center><div class="video-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDFuJT_5-jU" width="504"></iframe></div></center> Other presidential candidates are expected to cast their votes anytime today. <ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Davo City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte - Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Matina Aplaya, Davao City</li><li>Sen. Grace Poe - Sta. Lucia Elementary School in San Juan City</li><li>Liberal Party bet Manuel "Mar" Roxas II - Rufina Andrada Santos Memorial School in Roxas City, Capiz</li><li>Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago - La Vista Clubhouse in La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City</li></ul> As per reports, vice presidential candidates will vote at the following precincts: <ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano - Sta. Teresa Elementary School in Bagumbayan, Taguig City</li><li>Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero - Buhatan Elementary School in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon</li><li>Sen. Gringo Honasan - Nativity of Our Lady Parish in Marikina City</li><li>Cong. Leni Robredo - Tabuco Central School in Tabuco, Naga City</li><li>Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV - Holy Infant Montessori Center in Caloocan City</li></ul> A total of 55 million Filipinos are eligible to vote on Monday polls but 100-percent turn-out is not expected.</div>

IN PHOTOS: VP Binay, Bongbong Marcos among the first to vote

MANILA, Philippines - The most awaited election day in the country finally arrived. Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Ferdinand "Bo...

LIVESTREAM: ABS-CBN, GMA-7 Election 2016 coverage, video

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The country's biggest television and multimedia networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7 mounted an extensive and comprehensive news coverage of the 2016 national elections today, May 9. The livestream video and real-time updates are available on this page. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx4NT-YLF5vKt5oq24E1-tVwV3FTw-jXOQ5oQ0JkWjf6L7oMu40RC8zwO6N1t9lxksbK_H8MynH9GynK_JLwkimGLnA51Oyg5pQTDkCK8fNjwVyuzpmXnlF2OkHEPg9oVwcwk6Rq8Emlf/s1600/abs-cbn-gma-7-election-2016-coverage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LIVESTREAM: ABS-CBN, GMA-7 Election 2016 coverage" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx4NT-YLF5vKt5oq24E1-tVwV3FTw-jXOQ5oQ0JkWjf6L7oMu40RC8zwO6N1t9lxksbK_H8MynH9GynK_JLwkimGLnA51Oyg5pQTDkCK8fNjwVyuzpmXnlF2OkHEPg9oVwcwk6Rq8Emlf/s1600/abs-cbn-gma-7-election-2016-coverage.jpg" title="LIVESTREAM: ABS-CBN, GMA-7 Election 2016 coverage" /></a></div> Halalan 2016: ABS-CBN harness social media listening On Election Day, Filipinos all over the world will not just be informed. They will also be heard. ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes, said that a social media news desk dedicated to monitoring what people are talking about online has been formed to boost the network’s “Halalan 2016” marathon coverage that will begin at 5 a.m. today, (May 9) on ABS-CBN and continue until 11:30am of Tuesday (May 10). Check out the audio/video livestream of ABS-CBN's election coverage "#Halalan2016" here: http://news.abs-cbn.com/live <center><div class="video-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LQ8UXpC7CE" width="100%"></iframe></div></center> <center><a rel='nofollow' class="twitter-timeline" data-widget-id="729343696584343552" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Halalan2016" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Halalan2016 Tweets</a> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></center> "It’s important to highlight the conversations online which represent the views of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. Incorporating social media listening in our coverage is our way of showing that we value the voice of the people, especially at this critical time in our country’s history,” Reyes said. On Sunday, ABS-CBN also announced partnership with social networking giants Facebook and Twitter for the live social media updates. Facebook will be providing summaries of real-time data culled from issues and candidates being mentioned in conversations on its platform. On the other hand, Twitter will deliver the latest, personalized national election results. ABS-CBN’s top broadcast journalists will take turns in anchoring ABS-CBN News’ special coverage of the elections, dubbed the “Halalan 2016: Ipanalo ang Pamilyang Pilipino” election coverage, which will feature news reports straight from any of the 40 live points setup by ABS-CBN all over the nation, reports from ABS-CBN news bureaus abroad, and also a social listening segment that will show the hottest topics and buzz online. Noli De Castro and Bernadette Sembrano will kick-off the ABS-CBN election coverage at 5am, followed by Julius Babao and Karen Davila at 10am, Ted Failon and Ces Drilon at 3pm before the special edition of “TV Patrol” at 6:30pm. Henry Omaga-Diaz and Lynda Jumilla will continue the coverage at 8pm on ABS-CBN Sports + Action, after which the coverage goes back to ABS-CBN with “Bandila” anchors Babao, Davila, and Drilon at 10pm, then Omaga-Diaz and Jumilla return on-air at 1am. Serving as social media anchors are Gretchen Ho, TJ Manotoc, Gretchen Fullido and Dyan Castillejo. Eleksyon 2016: GMA News to use latest technology GMA Network will tap once again all platforms to deliver the real-time updates for the controversial and hotly contested Presidential elections in Philippine history. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndeBWtsLdvYxbB3Oa70klz6i9UUzD0Hpivy_fjYJK_sgdQwO3EyRthr-sRRSpNwl_WyskIOmcphMmQ7v-QUxYtMhAan0G8l60ttJWyBuGYzL6YzfYVbtR32WVX6j08zS9TUE2GIAmElJD/s1600/Eleksyon-2016-gma-news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Set-up for GMA's #Eleksyon2016 coverage." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndeBWtsLdvYxbB3Oa70klz6i9UUzD0Hpivy_fjYJK_sgdQwO3EyRthr-sRRSpNwl_WyskIOmcphMmQ7v-QUxYtMhAan0G8l60ttJWyBuGYzL6YzfYVbtR32WVX6j08zS9TUE2GIAmElJD/s1600/Eleksyon-2016-gma-news.jpg" title="Set-up for GMA's #Eleksyon2016 coverage." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set-up for GMA's #Eleksyon2016 coverage. Photo Credit: Twitter/Victoria Tulad</td></tr></tbody></table>GMA News coverage on Monday and Tuesday (May 9 and 10) is expected to use the latest technology including immersive graphics, 360-degree video cameras, and live drone footage. The livestream feed of GMA-7's "#Eleksyon2016" is available here: www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2016 Note: Video will be embedded here later courtesy of GMA News. <center><a rel='nofollow' class="twitter-timeline" data-widget-id="729344271283671042" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eleksyon2016" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Eleksyon2016 Tweets</a> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></center> Veteran news anchors Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, Vicky Morales, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, and Jessica Soho – as well as anchors Pia Arcangel, Jiggy Manicad, Kara David, Ivan Mayrina, Rhea Santos and Connie Sison will lead the extensive coverage of the Kapuso network. The news agency also said it will cater real-time Eleksyon 2016 updates, including up-to-the-minute partial and unofficial results for all positions in the national and local elections up to the clustered precinct level, accessible in all platforms and devices. Filipinos abroad can also watch the Eleksyon 2016 coverage via GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life and GMA News TV International.</div>

LIVESTREAM: ABS-CBN, GMA-7 Election 2016 coverage, video

MANILA, Philippines - The country's biggest television and multimedia networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7 mounted an extensive and comprehensive ...

Find your precinct using COMELEC Halalan 2016 app

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment company, goes the extra mile once again in providing news and public service to the Filipino people with a new and improved app for the national election on Monday, May 9. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uy4hUu1EOOvAwJ8EALgv9r9DDtzIsSdxnjtKbz-t8lcaktZ-rqEGROn4Qmn_iXlg5RaeuKevaaJxrM5F-i8vyArKV9o5XYLFZ_0fyFB_2mmEzcFeK5Z_inI1oasMPtcVhMkBNSe_GSz7/s1600/COMELEC-Halalan-2016-App.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="COMELEC Halalan 2016 app" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uy4hUu1EOOvAwJ8EALgv9r9DDtzIsSdxnjtKbz-t8lcaktZ-rqEGROn4Qmn_iXlg5RaeuKevaaJxrM5F-i8vyArKV9o5XYLFZ_0fyFB_2mmEzcFeK5Z_inI1oasMPtcVhMkBNSe_GSz7/s1600/COMELEC-Halalan-2016-App.png" title="COMELEC Halalan 2016 app" /></a></div> Filipinos can turn to the COMELEC Halalan App – a project of ABS-CBN and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – to check their status as voters, locate their precincts, check national candidates’ profiles, decide on their final bets through a ballot cheat sheet, get updated on election-related news and results, and also directly report election violations to the COMELEC. Here is a quick tour of the COMELEC Halalan 2016 app for new users: The News section provides users the latest election-related news from ABS-CBN News, the largest news organization in the Philippines, which operates in different media platforms. With the COMELEC Halalan 2016 app, voters are keep informed on the election issues wherever they are by just using their smartphones and gadgets. The Candidates page, meanwhile, gives users basic information on the candidates for president, vice president, senator, and even a list of all party-list groups participating in the national elections. RELATED STORY: <a rel='nofollow' href="http://pinoybuzz.blogkorner.com/2016/05/comelec-pilipinas-election-results-2016-website-now-up.html">Comelec's PiliPinas Election Results 2016 website now up</a> Users may also press the check button beside their preferred candidates’ names, which will automatically be reflected on the My Ballot page, which may serve as a voter’s personal short list of preferred candidates. For those who need to know their voter status or are looking for their voting precinct, the My Status section will be able to help them as it presents the complete registration data of the voter with the user just providing basic information such as First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, and birthday. The Results page shows the status of election-related reports or complaints sent by the user through BMPM, which is also integrated in the app. Finally, there is the Halalan 101 section that features infographics, quotes, and facts about the elections developed by ABS-CBN News Digital. First launched in 2012, the newest version of the COMELEC Halalan App was reintroduced by ABS-CBN in 2015 with new features that empower them to make a difference in this year’s polls. First, the app can now update users on the status of their election violation reports sent through the app. Both ABS-CBN News and COMELEC have put up their respective command centers to immediately respond to voter queries and complaints. For its part, ABS-CBN News is tapping its citizen journalism arm, Bayan Mo iPatrol Mo (BMPM), which has had extensive experience handling citizen queries and complaints in the past elections. Users only have to create an account and register to use the app to report election violations. The new version also includes election data and facts and figures that may be shared on social media to spread awareness on election issues and help voters make informed decisions when they cast their ballots on election day. Arlene Burgos, ABS-CBN News Digital Head for Social Media and Mobile, said the new COMELEC Halalan 2016 App is a big improvement from its earlier versions, and gives voters a unique experience that no other election app can provide. “We listened to the people and worked hand-in-hand with the COMELEC to come up with an app that can really be useful to voters. Thankfully, through everyone’s hard work, we’ve come up with an app that makes it easier for citizens to report or inquire, empowers the Comelec to act on these submissions by our citizens and Bayan Patrollers, and enhances ABS-CBN News’ efforts to educate the voting public,” Burgos said. The COMELEC Halalan 2016 app is available on App Store and Google Play and can be downloaded for free. The COMELEC Halalan 2016 app is part of ABS-CBN’s “Ipanalo ang Pamilyang Pilipino” Halalan 2016 campaign that encourages the public to support candidates that will stand up for the needs and protect the Filipino family. The ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs’ extensive and comprehensive reportage of this election season is set to go full blast on Monday with a cross platform marathon news coverage of the national polls which starts early morning.</div>

Find your precinct using COMELEC Halalan 2016 app

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN, the country’s leading media and entertainment company, goes the extra mile once again in providing news and p...

Comelec's PiliPinas Election Results 2016 website now up

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially announced on Sunday, the election results website for the 2016 general polls on Monday, May 9. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0zaCrchSsUYIhCnBvfFdSiEqLd_02xappfyQiijwTjFFjpCdYDdHMMuBMErOeFzTSMqmiUtNuVdfWOdLDn-XmbYZC0ehPON5j2mrItF5bbpbITfqGaY-wWdGcV2qAc2DYsu1PZ-ZEpJT/s1600/comelec-website-election-results-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Comelec's public website where you can see the election results now available." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0zaCrchSsUYIhCnBvfFdSiEqLd_02xappfyQiijwTjFFjpCdYDdHMMuBMErOeFzTSMqmiUtNuVdfWOdLDn-XmbYZC0ehPON5j2mrItF5bbpbITfqGaY-wWdGcV2qAc2DYsu1PZ-ZEpJT/s1600/comelec-website-election-results-2016.jpg" title="Comelec's public website where you can see the election results now available." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comelec's public website where you can see the election results now available.</td></tr></tbody></table>"Precinct results and canvassing results for the 2016 National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections will be available after closing time on election day," the website stated. Comelec spokesperson Director James Jimenez said that the website will also reflect the certificates of canvass transmitted to the poll body's central server coming from more than 90,000 polling precincts nationwide. Check out the latest election results on precinct level here: <a rel='nofollow' href="http://www.pilipinaselectionresults2016.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.pilipinaselectionresults2016.com</a>. "It can be viewed in most computer and mobile phones," Comelec said. The public site will show electoral information through three different views: 1. Transmissions received 2. Election returns by geography 3. Certificate of canvass by geography “The ERs contain all the results from the president down to the last candidate. Which means, we can already total them even if we would not announce it,” Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said in a press briefing. Asked about the possible hacking, Jimenez added that the central server was deployed in an isolated environment with high security standards and state of the art platform and able to refresh the information in short period of time, as results are received. Jimenez also clarified that the website will not be providing an overall total number of votes as well as ranking among candidates to safeguard against trending and intrigues. “There will be totals for the votes received for that particular precinct only but not for the whole thing,” Jimenez said. The public will be informed also the actual percentage of certificates of canvass counted by the Comelec through the said website. Note: The Summit Express will provide on this website the partial and unofficial Comelec election results (president, vice president and senators) immediately once available online. Like Us on Facebook, Follow Us on Twitter or subscribe to our e-mail list to receive real-time results.</div>

Comelec's PiliPinas Election Results 2016 website now up

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially announced on Sunday, the election results website for the 2016 genera...

Duterte, Marcos and the Vindication of a Religious Endorsement

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Barely five decades ago, the Iglesia Ni Cristo's working class paved the way for the surge of modern Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). They were part of the pioneering force which opened a new portal for the economy to grow during the Marcos administration. It was during that time that the INC suddenly realized that its role isn't limited in declaring the word of God inside the walls of its "kapilyas" (chapels). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eaDEoUAd8wgMt43lMbZgTqlbHSmI6dtbkNEMfx4EGgbyhHKP2QgJjsj6a0ndbyToS1OPWE3Ftenv0QNhUMyoKV5LDx93lNmXi09rgVglnV0e9LYJoEECr7AzBPxjID6Hqv8dnr8Kt4Ry/s1600/inc-bloc-voting-election-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="INC bloc voting election 2016" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eaDEoUAd8wgMt43lMbZgTqlbHSmI6dtbkNEMfx4EGgbyhHKP2QgJjsj6a0ndbyToS1OPWE3Ftenv0QNhUMyoKV5LDx93lNmXi09rgVglnV0e9LYJoEECr7AzBPxjID6Hqv8dnr8Kt4Ry/s1600/inc-bloc-voting-election-2016.jpg" title="INC bloc voting election 2016" /></a></div> From then on, it expanded its function as an influential economic propeller and political kingmaker. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilQnqlP0XYc_wnaWJYeWTteHX7iaWOyaMORsoGcgQH27TrfY1tZKmpI2rK2Zl_7GAF04D0SaTjxvxiy_vTrihFpSEskVnMnkBY44g3ki5gimFc22Tz7BAB_jPTRXMgs7qV9W-dAbFu6o4/s1600/duterte-fm-marcos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilQnqlP0XYc_wnaWJYeWTteHX7iaWOyaMORsoGcgQH27TrfY1tZKmpI2rK2Zl_7GAF04D0SaTjxvxiy_vTrihFpSEskVnMnkBY44g3ki5gimFc22Tz7BAB_jPTRXMgs7qV9W-dAbFu6o4/s1600/duterte-fm-marcos.jpg" title="Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership. Photo credit: Philippine Star online</td></tr></tbody></table>Even the late President Ferdinand Marcos recognized it as he forged a strong relationship with the Manalo-led church. Today, that tie with the INC managed to transcend the realms of time as it finally threw its support to Senator Bongbong Marcos, the late strongman’s namesake and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the man who openly venerates the leadership style of the older Marcos. INC’s Bloc-Voting Record Known for its almost solid bloc-voting practice, political analysts estimates that Duterte and Marcos can get as much as 80% of the almost two million registered INC voters. Just enough for their rivals to scramble in finding ways just to prevent their ascension to power. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fuzZTocFvOI5xDfuPuufyrS-vN9SgHc6GirOUVfgtKXX-1axHl-LSD05Xz7kkXCs7f24PXlT-rbIIhOxLMga1tJEsCKJEFTTlBV008rnFXGKnCzVRpiwanM2i50dvLK_4PynUc97qrh7/s1600/bongbong-leni-pilipinas-debates-vp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fuzZTocFvOI5xDfuPuufyrS-vN9SgHc6GirOUVfgtKXX-1axHl-LSD05Xz7kkXCs7f24PXlT-rbIIhOxLMga1tJEsCKJEFTTlBV008rnFXGKnCzVRpiwanM2i50dvLK_4PynUc97qrh7/s1600/bongbong-leni-pilipinas-debates-vp.jpeg" title="Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday. Photo credit: CNN Philippines</td></tr></tbody></table>For its detractors, it is nothing but pure blind faith that drives the INC brethren in following the decision of the higher-ups in their church. But among its believers, the blessing of Ka Eduardo Manalo, the third-generation leader of the country's homegrown church is a highly coveted one. His anointment is providential to anyone who receives it. For them, the consecration of the church's head honcho is the manifestation of God's will, without it, there will be no unity. In a populist and highly religious country like the Philippines, media mileage, lording over surveys and nationwide political machinery are essential but acquiring the nod of a religious group can also make or break a candidacy. An endorsement is a validation of a candidate's qualifications and provides an advantage to outplay other runners. Although the INC has a smaller electorate compared to the Catholics in the country, the latter does not have any obligation to vote unanimously. Looking back, the INC's voting power underwent a series of trials prior to its emergence as a critical player today. Changing of Allegiance As Marcos tried to consolidate his remaining strength to remain in power, the INC remained with him during the 1986 snap elections but a number of its followers voted to help catapult a Cory Aquino to the presidency. INC’s electoral power evidently diminished as the next 1992 presidential elections saw a protestant Fidel V. Ramos winning the presidency. INC’s favored candidate, Danding Cojuangco only placed in a dismal third after the crowd favorite Miriam Defensor-Santiago. However, INC took back its position as a kingmaker after supporting the eventual winner Joseph Estrada in a short-lived presidency. Anyway, Estrada was too popular that even in a crowded presidential race he managed to pull off an impressive number wherein with or without INC's backing, will still make him the 13th ruler of the land. 2004 was truly the comeback of INC’s bloc-voting power when it chose to go with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who narrowly won against action star Fernando Poe Jr. with an approximate 1.1 million or 3.48% vote margin. Taking note from the exit poll conducted that time by ABS-CBN and SWS, the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo comprised three percent of the voters that day. Had Poe’s camp managed to persuade Panfilo Lacson to withdraw to get INC's support and prevented the cheating in Maguindanao, Poe could have been the winner. INC was helpful for the INC to seal its stature as a must-have force after being instrumental in helping Aquino to extend his lead against Joseph Estrada and Manny Villar, solidifying his hold as the perennial winner. Will Bloc-Voting Work on Monday? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADiuOKRER3KhxmoG1pradAtkpKyMW4_BwYcbWEwleTQZrJP3lnqg1mrwzaGAUXgH8wBUSs5E2dClGICGJCu3iTDJSXX0Pdc_NhA3iS6K86eSM7TJlN0migxWEaNlF_t_nB49lrawMXMvV/s1600/duterte-manalo-inc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADiuOKRER3KhxmoG1pradAtkpKyMW4_BwYcbWEwleTQZrJP3lnqg1mrwzaGAUXgH8wBUSs5E2dClGICGJCu3iTDJSXX0Pdc_NhA3iS6K86eSM7TJlN0migxWEaNlF_t_nB49lrawMXMvV/s1600/duterte-manalo-inc.jpg" title="Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo. Photo credit: Eagle News Twitter account</td></tr></tbody></table>But the upcoming Monday showdown will be a different one. Duterte and Marcos will be banking on the support of an Iglesia that is yet to recover from the stigma of controversies that it has been trying to hush since last year. If the INC was able to deliver 74% for Arroyo and 84.8% for Aquino before, Duterte’s camp should expect a lower turnout. But despite this, the endorsement will surely bring greater momentum for Duterte’s supporters for the next two days as it just came right in a time where the mayor finally broke away with his rivals in the surveys. The INC’s declaration of support to Duterte can be taken as a confirmation that the mayor satisfactorily met the moral parameters and that he's the most qualified to do the job and will shield him from the final round of blitzkriegs that his opponents will try to be able to snatch votes from him. However, INC's support may or may not help Duterte to acquire the undecided and the swing voters depending on how these people see the INC in a post-Menorca exposé era. In the case of Marcos who is popular among the millennials, there's certainly no room to be confident. Because aside from the ten to twenty percent who doesn’t follow the bloc-voting style, not all INC voters are coming from the youth sector as some of them lived during the dark ages of his father’s regime which might go for other candidates or worst, vote for his closest rival Congresswoman Leni Robredo who is now the survey frontrunner. Take note on how the Roxas-Binay 2010 faceoff was concluded where Roxas was the frontrunner in the surveys before Binay took over and eventually staged a come-from-behind win. At that time, Roxas successfully got a commanding 86.4% of the INC votes whereas Binay only managed to collect 8.8% from the non-conformist INC voters. Binay's Cinderella title run can be repeated again by Robredo as the history of her performance in the past surveys mirrors that of the vice president. To those four who failed to get Manalo's precious "yes," there's still alternatives like Mike Velarde's El Shaddai and Joel Villanueva's Jesus is Lord Church. But undeniably, INC offers the most solid reputation in delivering hundreds of thousands to more than a million votes. Vindication of the oppressed If there’s one thing that Duterte, Marcos and the INC has in common is that all of them are being perceived as the oppressed in their respective battles. Dutere’s foul mouth, the shadow of martial law following Marcos and the countless allegations of corruption inside the INC worked effectively to vilify them to the public, which could have been the deciding factor for the century-old church to back the two to whom they can relate their situation the most. With no record of betrayal from Marcos and Duterte, it was a flawless courtship indeed. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a rel='nofollow' href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lQVUvw5qmXm11mdSs_ktFuvvyFBjFYRu1K5_72EUk7GwVJNrO-aDf9NSCZsOeILdiBpBMPyOS1VVf7Qr2Jyy0KRTukP4AooA0MLZ12uKQr4Bdf_rD5kN2FukQ2QmGraIaQTIAdMfCap/s1600/duterte-marcos-interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lQVUvw5qmXm11mdSs_ktFuvvyFBjFYRu1K5_72EUk7GwVJNrO-aDf9NSCZsOeILdiBpBMPyOS1VVf7Qr2Jyy0KRTukP4AooA0MLZ12uKQr4Bdf_rD5kN2FukQ2QmGraIaQTIAdMfCap/s1600/duterte-marcos-interview.jpg" title="Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">All smiles. Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press. Photo credit: FHM Philippines online</td></tr></tbody></table>For Duterte, should he win, it will be a vindication of his character. A win will justify his shrewd boldness and frequent dropping of curse words in front of the media and large crowds. It will give him the authority to perpetuate the principles he thinks will quickly solve the country's woes, regardless of the consequences and dangers it may pose to the democracy and the people. For Marcos, it will be a vindication of their family name. A win will help their family to clean their tainted image. The Marcoses may use this opportunity to overhaul their reputation, to start anew, and bring a new Marcos leadership that will dismantle the remaining vestiges of dictatorship they were notoriously known for. Or they may use this to navigate themselves towards restoring ostentatious and corrupt governance that their enemies are claiming they are guilty for. The INC puts emphasis on its members to join together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The doctrine of unity serves as the cornerstone of its bloc-voting practice. This has been the prime justification that the INC members have been able to defend well over the past elections. Regardless if in full or not, INC’s support will play a significant role in this very tight race and will somehow aid it to restore order among its confused brethren. --Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</div>

Duterte, Marcos and the Vindication of a Religious Endorsement

Barely five decades ago, the Iglesia Ni Cristo's working class paved the way for the surge of modern Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Th...