As reported last May 8, Sr. Maureen Catabian RGS,
coordinator of the Women, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (WJPIC)
Office of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Philippine Province, participated in
the international monitoring mission for the May 2010 elections.
Sr. Maureen returned from Abra today, May 13.
Below is her report:
People’s International Observers’ Mission 2010 (PIOM)
The PIOM 2010 is the third International Monitoring
mission organized for the Philippine National Elections since 2004. The second mission was held in 2007. The main organizers are the
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and PAGBABAGO
Movement.
A total of 86 foreign delegates, representing 11 countries, participated in the Mission and accompanied by several local
delegates. The group visited the
“hotspots” identified by the
COMELEC especially during elections namely NL-Abra, CL-Pampanga/Tarlac, NCR-Tondo, SL- Quezon / Bicol,
WV-Iloilo, ARMM-Lanao, SM-Davao del Sur and NM-Surigao.
Abra is part of the Cordillera Autonomous Region. The Abra Province is composed of 27 municipalities. Warlordism and Militarization is
prevalent in Abra. Killings among
rival parties heighten especially during election period. According to a study, Abra contributes
to 16% of the nation’s election-
related killings.
Abra is also the most militarized provinces in the
Cordillera region with the 41st Infantry Batallion and 50th IB openly in the Province. The
PIOM group left for Abra on May 8 and returned to Manila on May 13. With the
Abra group were delegates from Canada, Australia, the US and Europe. The PIOM
group was accompanied by Church groups, NGOs and POs coming from Abra, Baguio
and Manila and locals from Bangued and Malibcong. After a Courtesy visit to the PNP Provincial Director,
COMELEC Supervisor, Military Commander, Governor Bersamin and Congresswoman
Luna- the Abra group split into two teams. Team 1 stayed in Bangued (Town
Proper) while Team 2 went to Malibcong which is an interior municipality in the
uplands- a 5-hour travel via the rugged mountains and winding roads.
The PIOM Abra
group through interviews with the people in the community noted cases of rampant “vote-buying” (prior to
elections) and military harassment and intimidations during elections in 3
interior barangays of Malibcong. In the 3 interior polling places that have been visited, the group
noticed the people saying the elections is “okay” but one could sense fear and
tension in the place as they refuse to elaborate their responses when
probed. There are several police
and military with M16s visible and posted near polling places. As observers, we have felt also the
threat even just by seeing them from afar with their guns where also some military taking photos of the observers.
During the visit, the group monitored and documented
cases of HR violations through the threat and intimidation
by the military on some local residents whom they allegedly suspect of being supporters of
insurgents as they ask them very threatening questions, warn the people and sow
fear in the community.
To vote freely is a basic political right and if this
basic right is threatened and voters are harassed and intimidated, this is a
clear example of HR violations committed by the military against civilian
people during the elections.
View Photos: May 2010 Elections Photo Gallery