Three luminaries in the country’s election reform who now occupy key positions in public service were honored by CenPEG during the “Multi-Stakeholders Consultation and Testimonial,” August 20 this year.
The three are Alfredo Pascual, former lead convener and spokesperson of the Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch), who is now the president of the University of the Philippines; Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III; and Engr. Augusto “Gus” Lagman.
AES Watch is a citizens’ election watchdog formed by CenPEG and 40 other organizations to monitor the country’s first automated elections in May 2010.
Pimentel III served as CenPEG counsel (together with lawyer Pancho Joaquin, now director at the PCSO) in a mandamus case filed with the Supreme Court (SC) on Oct. 5, 2009 compelling the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to release the election source code for independent review by citizens groups and political parties. The SC ruled in favor of CenPEG on Sept.21, 2010 but the election program is yet to be released for independent review today. Lagman, on the other hand, was also a convener of AES Watch, representing TransparentElections.org.
Attended by at least 40 election advocates and leaders, the multi-stakeholders consultation also issued a unified statement urging the convening of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) to assess the May 2010 automated elections, as mandated, alongside the Senate Committee on Electoral Reform; to push for amendments to RA 9369 as a means of correcting problems documented in the 2010 elections and enhance transparency, accuracy, and auditability; and to conduct concerted actions on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill which has a direct bearing on electoral reform particularly on the issue of transparency and voter rights.
Joining the consultation cum testimonial were, among others, Rep. Teddy Casino, Namfrel founding chair Jose Concepcion, Georgina Encanto of Transparency International-Philippines, lawyer Felix Carao, UPAA president Gladys Tiongco, Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia, Dr. Pablo Manalastas of CenPEG, Toti Casino, Ernie del Rosario, and Bobby Tuazon, also of CenPEG. CenPEG News
(L-R) UP President Alfredo Pascual, Sen. Koko Pimentel, and Comelec Commissioner Gus Lagman. (CenPEG photo)
Multi-stakeholders consultation and testimonial (CenPEG photo)