KIKO TO COMELEC: GET OUT OF AIR-CONDITIONED
OFFICES AND GO TO ELECTION HOT SPOTS

Senate Majority Leader and independent re-electionist candidate Kiko Pangilinan yesterday called on the COMELEC to proactively address the issue on election hotspots to avoid cheating and ensure their accountability on the electoral process.

"Since November last year, there has been 1 killed in election-related violence every 4 days. This is very alarming and the COMELEC should compel itself to act upon the matter swiftly and appropriately," Kiko said.

There have been 21 incidents of election-related violence from November 11, 2006 to April 17, 2007, which left 38 persons killed and 16 injured.

"We call on the COMELEC to be proactive in solving the issue on election violence. Instead of simply commissioning the military and the police force to patrol election hotspots, they should go out of their way, leave their air-conditioned offices, visit these areas and avert incidents of election-related deaths and violence," Kiko said.

Kiko earlier urged the COMELEC to allow the immediate announcements of Senate election results in the provincial and municipal level to make the process more transparent and prevent dagdag-bawas.

"Efforts to address the swelling incidence of election-related violence should be a priority of the COMELEC. This is very undemocratic and should not be taken lightly by accountable authorities." Kiko said.

"It's during times like these that one misses the late Haydee Yorac who, as commissioner, was always out there in the field. COMELEC needs to exercise greater political will to accomplish its constitutional duty," Kiko ended.