Press Release
June 6, 2007

ROXAS FILES SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND
ELECTION VOLUNTEERS UNDER VFORCE

As the Commission on Elections gears up for the official proclamation of ten winning senators, the Senate, in a resolution filed by Senator Mar Roxas, entered into public record the courage and dedication of thousands of election volunteers who served the country as part of the VforCe movement.

Senate Resolution 641 commended hundreds of thousands of volunteer lawyers, law students, teachers, religious groups, businessmen, anti-corruption watchdogs and other organizations that came together to prevent a repeat of widespread cheating in the May 2004 presidential elections.

Members of the VforCE coalition, particularly in Maguindanao, have been instrumental in exposing election fraud even in the face of grave danger, Roxas stressed in his resolution.

SR 641 also cited VforCE members for standing their ground and exposing massive poll fraud and cheating in Lanao del Sur. They undertook these responsibilities, regardless of risks involved, fueled only by their sense of nationalism and dignity and not by any remuneration or other monetary consideration.

The resolution also cited vigilant members of media for their persistent determination in ensuring clean, honest, and orderly elections.

Roxas said that the best reward that the winning and incumbent legislators could extend to VforCE is a firm commitment to legislate much needed electoral reforms particularly in thwarting attempts to disenfranchise voters as well as to tamper with election documents and results.

The VforCE Coalition is composed of volunteers belonging to such organizations as the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Pinoy Bantay Bayan, the Bantay Eleksyon 07-Peoples Coalition to Monitor 2007 Election, the Makati Business Club, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), One Voice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the transparency movement, Perat Pulitika.

Roxas encouraged VforCE to come up with a full report on the experiences of the volunteers and documentary evidences on election fraud. I hope that they dedicate their report to those who have died while trying to perform their duties of safeguarding the ballot, the Liberal Party stalwart said.

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