Dismayed PPCRV to Comelec: fix poll lapses fast

Even as it voiced dismay over the glitches that marred last month's barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections, a Church-based poll watchdog group asked authorities to address the problems straight away. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other agencies not to allow a repeat of such incidents in the next elections in 2013. "Huwag palampasin ang nangyari ngayon. Kahit natapos na at halal na at deklarado, hindi dapat palampasin ito. Gumawa sila ng masusi na pagsiyasat at imbestigasyon," PPCRV Chairwoman Henrietta de Villa said in an interview on dzBB radio. (Authorities should not allow a repeat of these glitches in the next elections. The winners in this election may have been proclaimed, but this does not mean the Comelec can relax) Glitches in the delivery of election paraphernalia to several areas forced the delay of elections in at least 2,341 villages in the country last October 25. In an earlier interview, Comelec commissioner Lucenito Tagle admitted that they were not prepared for the delay in delivery of poll equipment. "No more finger-pointing. Tingnan ang responsibilidad mo at saan ka nagkulang (Each agency concerned should look at its own responsibility and its shortcomings)," de Villa said. De Villa admitted that she herself was dismayed over Monday's developments, despite her initial optimism about the polls. "Nagbubuntung-hininga ako lagi. Dismayado rin ako. Awang awa rin ako sa volunteer namin at sa botante," she said. (I find myself sighing much these days. I'm very dismayed. I also sympathize with our volunteers and voters in the affected areas) But she said she was touched and heartened that in affected areas like Masbate, PPCRV volunteers remain ready to do their work. "Sabi sa akin Ma'am narito kami ang volunteers pagod na pagod, dalawang araw na naghihintay. Kahit hirap kami walang umaatras," she said. (They told me our volunteers are tired because of waiting. But despite their hardships they are not giving up) "Nariyan ang Diyos, sinasabi sa atin, keep on. Huwag madismaya (God is there, telling us to keep on. We should not be dismayed)," she added. - TJD, GMANews.TV