ANC dissects 2010 polls

Author: Malaya
Column: Entertainment

The year 2010 marks a milestone in Philippine elections history when about 46 million registered Filipino voters will be experiencing automated polls. While many hail it as a move towards ensuring a clean elections, there are others who remain skeptical that it is the panacea to fighting election fraud.

This Monday, the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) will walk viewers through this significant shift in the country's electoral system via a televised public forum called "ANC Presents: A 2010 Poll Automation Forum" anchored by Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb. The forum begins at 8 p.m. on Sky Channel 27, live blogging begins at about the same time at www.ABS-CBNnews.com.

Leaders from all major political parties, experts from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Smartmatic officials, election watchdogs, and representatives from the League of Governors and League of Mayors, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, and distinguished personalities from the field of law and academe will converge and discuss the issues surrounding automated elections.

They include Lakas-Kampi's Prospero Pichay, Nacionalista Party's Adel Tamano, United Opposition's Ernesto Maceda, Nationalist People's Coalition's Rex Gatchalian, and Liberal Party's Butch Abad.

Ten Boto Patrollers of ABS-CBN's "Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula" (BMPM) campaign from Metro Manila, Tarlac, and Batangas will also conduct a live test of the poll machines to demonstrate how the new voting system works.

On the same day, ABS-CBN's "Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo" campaign will hold voter and BMPM registration in Mendiola, Manila and the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Outside Metro Manila, BMPM and voter registration will be held in the cities of Laoag in Ilocos Norte, Tacloban in Leyte, and Iligan in Lanao del Norte.

For updates, stay tuned to ABS-CBN, ANC, Studio 23, and DZMM, or visit www.ABS-CBNnews.com/botomo.

Source: Malaya