News Release

February 3, 2010
Ref: Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez
Lakas-Kampi-CMD national president

Gibo asks Comelec to reconsider Namfrel bid for accreditationLakas-Kampi CMD presidential candidate Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. has urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reconsider its decision not to accredit the watchdog group Namfrel in the May presidential elections, warning of dire consequences if the credibility of the 2010 polls come under question.

“Right now, the country is on the edge chaos and many Filipinos are pinning their hopes on a credible election in 2010 toset things right, especially in the transition of government.Questions about a less-than-credible election will inevitably lead to further discord and trouble for the country,” said Teodoro, as he vouched for the credibility of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections as an election watchdog group.

Namfrel’s unparalleled record of credibility and performance in 22 national and local elections since 1983 “more than justifies allowing it to keep watch in the May elections,” the 1989Bar topnotcher and Harvard-trained lawyer said.

The election watchdog group relies on a nationwide networkof civic volunteers in monitoring the electoral exercise for possible fraud and other irregularities, especially in electoral hot spots.

Namfrel and the CBCP’s social arm, the National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA) headed by Bishop Broderick Pabillo filed last December a joint petition to be accredited as an election watchdog in the May elections.

Namfrel wantsto conduct an unofficial quick count in areas where automated elections will not be implemented, and perform manual random audit in areas where automation will be carried out.

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting(PPCRV), however, objected to Namfrel-NASSA’s petition, claiming that the latter only duplicates the functions already granted to the former by the poll body. Election lawyer Sixto Brillantes also objected tothe Namfrel-NASSA petition.

"To my mind leaving out Namfrel—which has gained expertise through the decades it worked since 1983 to ensure that elections are transparent and credible—will only work to the disadvantage of the Comelec and the credibility of the elections in general,” Teodoro said.

He added: “The more eyes watching, the more credible theelection results will become.” Teodoro said Namfrel’s reputation has gained international notice, having been invited by the United Nations and UNDP to monitor elections in Cambodia.

Its volunteers have worked as trainers, members of observer teams, and resource persons in Afghanistan and 30 other countries. These are Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile,China, Cote D’Ivoire, Denmark, Haiti, Hong Kong, Indonesia,Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan,Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka,Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, the United States and Zambia.

For its work, Namfrel has received high-profilenominations, among them to the Nobel Peace Prize from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the International Human RightsLaw Group.

Reports indicated that Namfrel has asked the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to help mediate itsongoing squabble with the PPCRV.