IPs faces black prop, disenfranchisement—KATRIBU Partylist

Manila(May 5)—Nearly capping off their nationwide campaign, a colorful caravan of indigenous peoples and supporters of KATRIBU Partylist made rounds in Manila, injecting an ethnic flavor to the campaigns in the nation’s capital.

A dose of indigenous culture to passersby, KATRIBU Partylist gave brief performances during stops at their caravan. The Dulaang Iglap or flash performances were a good way of getting urbanites to stop and listen, the group said. “In Manila where indigenous culture is not commonplace, we are able to get people’s attention and hopefully their votes as well,” Nelson Mallari, an Aeta and KATRIBU secretary general, said.

Laden by indigenous peoples of mostly Aetas from Central Luzon, the convoy alighted at key areas, raising issues faced by the progressive partylist group.

Competing with black prop
KATRIBU had recently filed a complaint after being vilified as a ‘communist and terrorist front.’ According to documents and photographs collated by KATRIBU, military, police, and other state agents have been actively campaigning against ‘progressive’ partylists and senators. (Reference: KATRIBU hits AFP/PNP over black prop http://katribu.org/content/katribuits-afppnp-over-black-prop)

“The AFP could not claim neutrality when we sight their men spreading black propaganda all over the country,” Mallari declared. According to the group, the AFP is conducting a ‘zero campaign’ against progressive candidates, promising no wins for ‘leftists’ in all positions. This is seemingly targeted at candidates under the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN), with black propaganda against its local and national candidates such as KATRIBU Partylist and senatoriables Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo are widespread in Manila and provinces.

Exorcism for credible elections, a prayer for fit leaders
A chicken was sacrificed in Mendiola in the name of honest, peaceful, and credible elections. According to the Aetas, animal sacrifice was a way to cast out demons; and the sacrificial chicken will hopefully drive away the evils of black propaganda, violence, and fraud that mar the May 2010 elections.

“We hope to banish the ghosts of election past, present, and future—the specters of dagdag bawas, Hello Garci, and automated fraud.” Mallari said.

The Aetas also chanted a prayer for better leadership. “Hopefully, we can cast out personal demons as well,” Mallari chided. “We want Gloria out of the Palace, but we pray that we can install someone who can lead the people with the fullness of his potency and wits,” Mallari added.

KATRIBU deems it necessary for people wanting the top job to be physically and mentally ready for the harshness of public office, and asks candidates for transparency in such issues. “The presidency is a vigorous and taxing position. The people want a wise, informed, vote.” Mallari said. “Candidates must brace themselves for scrutiny. It might be humiliating, shameful, and comments can be hurtful. In wanting top spots, privacy is a luxury they can’t afford.”

Disenfranchisement imminent
Alarmed at the recent PCOS machine testing, KATRIBU deemed the unequal machine-manual tally more as a ploy than machine error, as it suspiciously counted administration-backed presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro’s votes but not the Nacionalista Party’s.

“If those machines does not count NP votes, we doubt that it would count votes for progressives,” Mallari shared.
Furthermore, the partylist group fears even worse disenfranchisement for indigenous peoples at 2010 elections.

“We have taken on the challenge of educating our peoples of the automated elections, but the Comelec did not deliver on their end. This election is fraught with delays, miscounts, and unreliability.” The group pointed out that the far-flung indigenous villages are now even more vulnerable to disenfranchisement, without power, service, and now without reliable PCOS machines.

“May 10 will be a day of chaos and confusion,” Mallari predicted. “The Comelec must perform its duty to ensure a peaceful, honest, and credible#