JIL National Operation

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is at it again?

Bangon Pilipinas National Campaign Manager Atty. Lyndon Cana has received complaints from supporters in Mindanao that advance voting are already taking place in military camps.

If true, this is yet another election laws violation involving the military, said Cana.

While early voting for specific government officers and employees, including the military, is provided for by Republic Act 7166 and Executive Order 157, early voting will not start until April 28. The Commission on Elections has set April 28 to 30 as the dates for local absentee voting.

Apart from violating the Comelec rule on the dates of voting, Bangon Pilipinas has also received reports that it is not the soldiers who are actually casting their votes in military camps.

Atty. Cana cites a report from Cotabato where Bangon supporters from the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army have simply been told that the Comelec has allowed soldiers assigned in the field and who cannot return to their hometowns because of their tour of duty to cast their votes ahead, but have been told by their officers that “everything is all right and taken care of”. Reports further indicate that this process has favored one presidential candidate.

Atty. Cana has asked his informants to please come out with Affidavits to attest to the truthfulness of the allegations.  Sadly, however, the families of the informants have appealed to Bangon Pilipinas not to divulge their identities. Understandably, reprisals from superiors is a consequence most unwelcome.

“As a lawyer, I understand that these reports are all mere hearsay and do not have probative value,” Atty. Cana said.  “However, we request the Comelec and all election watchdog groups, as well as all political parties, to check their contacts and verify if advance elections in the military camps are indeed on-going, if soldiers actually cast their votes, and if there are safeguard mechanisms such as presence of watchers that will ensure the integrity of the process.”

The Mindanao vote remains to be the swing vote for Bangon Pilipinas. This is according to Adz Nikabulin, senatorial candidate of Bangon Pilipinas Party, also a Commanding General of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) amidst alleged reports of withdrawal of support from the United Muslims in Mindanao. The withdrawal of support was allegedly pronounced by its Executive Vice-President for Mindanao, Mohammad Elme Sanguila Al Hadj.

The MNLF, through its Founding Chairman Nur Misuari, had publicly declared its support mid-March to the Bangon Pilipinas slate led by its presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva. He raised Villanueva’s hands before key officers of the MNLF during the MNLF Founding Anniversary held last March 18 in Ipil, Zamboanga. Misuari said the MNLF and its nationwide network of supporters will deliver more than 5 million votes for Villanueva.

Nikabulin said that it is against Koranic Law to abandon commitments. “A true Muslim honors his commitment,” Nikabulin said of the alleged withdrawal of support.  

According to reports, the United Muslims in Mindanao had been asking for huge amounts of funds from Bangon Pilipinas which the Party has refused to give.  

“I don’t want to think that other political parties have instead given them the money. A Muslim’s commitment has no price,” Nikabulin said.  

The senatorial candidate added, “The MNLF leadership knew from the very beginning that Bangon Pilipinas is a non-traditional political party. The Party has no funds like other traditional political parties. There was no expectation of huge funding support. Neither there was a refusal to extend whatever available support it can render or give to the MNLF. The sole motivation for this alliance is genuine justice and peace for Mindanao, and not campaign funds.”  

Ang diwa ng Araw ng Kagitingan ay nakasentro sa pagtatanggol sa demokrasya.

Bago pa man ang madamdaming Pagbasak ng Bataan sa mga pwersa ng mananakop na Hapon noong Abril 9, 1942, nasa dugo na nating mga Pilipino ang kahandaang mamatay para sa Inang Bayan. Pinatunayan ito sa atin ng kwento ng ating mga bayani sa pangunguna na ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Mula sa salitang "giting," ang kagitingan ay pumapatungkol sa buo at marubdob na katapangan ng ating lahi. Ang kagandahan ng salitang ito ay ni walang katumbas na salitang banyaga. Pilipinong-Pilipino!

Sa muling paggunita ng buong bansa sa Araw ng Kagitingan, nagpupugay ang Bangon Pilipinas sa lahat ng Pilipino na nakahanda pa ring protektahan ang ating demokrasya!

Sa patuloy na pag-usad ng ating kwento bilang isang bansa, nagkaroon tayo ng sunod-sunod na pagsubok na nagbigay-hamon sa ating demokrasya. Sa kabila nito, nananatili tayong matatag. At muli tayong haharap sa isa pang hamon sa susunod na buwan. Isang pambansang halalan na naman ang susubok kay Juan dela Cruz para isabuhay ang diwa ng pagtindig sa sinasabi ng ating Saligang Batas na ang kapangyarihan ay nasa kamay ng ating mga mamamayan.

Sa kasalukuyang bagsak na kalagayan ng bansa, sasayangin ba natin ang kapangyarihang ito at lalo tayong babagsak? O gagamitin natin ang kapangyarihang ito para magsisimula na tayo sa pagbangon?

Naniniwala ang Bangon Pilipinas sa dangal ng lahing Pilipino. At ang dangal na ito ang siyang gagabay sa atin para piliin ang pagbangon... ang isang bagong simula para sa ating demokrasya.

Muli, pagpupugay sa magigiting na Pilipino!