Initiated by One La Salle for Human Rights and Democracy
During times of crisis, dirty politics is a fascist’s weapon of choice. With this, One La Salle for Human Rights and Democracy and its allied organizations listed hereunder take a unified stand against electoral fraud and the systematic attacks on our nation’s democracy.
The Filipino people have been expressing collective unrest since the release of the results of the 2019 national midterm elections. Results show that Duterte administration-backed parties dominate the Congress with questionable numbers, even during the rise of an exponentially growing opposition. The masses struggling against their anti-people policies and governance are one in pronouncing condemnation of electoral fraud and the profound violation of the Filipino citizens’ democratic rights.
Some of the most conspicuous irregularities that have aggravated the toiling masses’ turmoil in the 2019 elections include:
1. The perpetration of Martial Law in Mindanao that puts roughly 12 million votes in a vulnerable state. COMELEC’s declaration of election ‘hotspots’ gave justification to the deployment of battalions of police and military in communities in Mindanao. These police and military forces were witnessed to directly participate in partisan activity, violating the Omnibus Election Code. High-ranking officials such as Albayalde, Año, and Lorenzana openly partook in electioneering against progressive representatives including Kabataan Partylist and senatoriable Neri Colmenares.
2. Prevalent vote counting machine (VCM) breakdowns across the nation. Roughly 1,000 VCMs were reported to have malfunctioned on the day of elections, causing operations to be delayed and precinct operators to resort to dodgy practices leading to voters not being able to verify their votes. 600-800 voters are assigned to each VCM, which ultimately compromises an estimated 600,000-800,000 votes. This is enough to greatly manipulate the actual election results.
3. Multiple cases of vote mismatch seen in voters’ receipts as well as the pre-shading of ballots in Lanao as seen in a video gone viral days ago.
4. The unexplained ‘technical glitch’ in the COMELEC transparency servers that led to an hours-long lag in the delivery of results.
What happened in the 2019 national midterm elections has been the Duterte administration’s worst, most blatant attack on our democracy thus far. Even long before the week of the elections, Duterte and his cohorts had been tripling its efforts in the cultivation of a repressive environment for a supposedly democratic country. Human rights violations have become embedded in the ordinary Filipino’s narrative with the enactment of anti-poor Oplan Tokhang, murderous Martial Law in Mindanao, and burdensome TRAIN Law, among others. The oppressed and dehumanized sectors of today have continued to bear the brunt of the current dictatorship’s refusal to truly serve the masses. It comes as no surprise that it is these sectors that make up the strengthening resistance asserting their right to ensure our nation’s welfare and give the power back to the people.
The struggling masses have no faith in a Hugpong ng Pagbabago-dominated Congress, as they have been the ones actively sustaining the masses’ agony. They are not the ones who will truly represent the interest of the toiling farmers, workers, women, youth, national minorities, and other vulnerable sectors who routinely endure the repercussions of Philippine society’s fundamental problems. They will not be able to solve the root causes of the Filipino masses’ suffering from exploitation and oppression. Time and again this roster of plunderers, landgrabbers, and executioners have proven that the only representation they will be able to successfully posit is that of their personal political and economic interest. The people’s faith is in the progressive candidates who will be steadfast in furthering the people’s agenda, which is one aimed to install nationalistic, democratic, and mass-oriented governance.
We believe that it is a time of widespread societal turmoil, as the rapidly intensifying opposition to fascistic rule is countered with suppression. Substantive and principled dissent is methodically silenced. During this time of a looming dictatorship, it is most crucial for the youth of today to emulate the examples of youth heroes Andres Bonifacio and Lorena Barros and actively participate in effecting genuine social change through militant struggle both within the parliament and out.
This is to declare that the Lasallian community will remain vigorous and keen in today’s political climate that is positioned to attack the poor and marginalized. We will fulfill our duties as Lasallians for God and country and make a stand for the nation’s democracy and the struggling masses at large.
#LabanKabataan
#LabanBayan
THE UNDERSIGNED:
| Sari Suplido | ADLAW Political Party CSB | Vice Chairperson for Electoral Affairs |
| Maegan Ragudo | Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista | Director for National Affairs |
| Lance Dela Cruz | Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista | Vice President for External Affairs |
| Jason Christopher Paz | Anakbayan Kalayaan | Chairperson |
| Jeremiah Nuguid | Anakbayan Kalayaan | Member |
| Kathelyn Bravo | Anakbayan Kalayaan | Member |
| Mikko Rolluque | Anakbayan Kalayaan | Member |
| Iana de Castro | Anakbayan Vito Cruz | Vice Chairperson |
| Marc Uy | Archers for UNICEF | President |
| Vic Lemuel I. Cajurao | Arellano Law Forensic Guild | President |
| Samantha Lumang | Benilde Central Student Government | Vice President for Internal Affairs |
| Patricis Kapunan | Benilde Central Student Government | President |
| Natasha Navarro | Benilde Comelec | Vice Commissioner of Public Relations |
| Jade Edillor | Benilde Hive/SIO | Logistics Head |
| Eouia Aum Duenas | Benilde Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Member |
| Maria Cristi Q. Tulay (Teta Tulay) | Benilde Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Trainer |
| Chiara Jazmine D. Parrenas | Benilde Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Logistics Officer |
| Marielle Beatriz C. Villas | Benlide Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Member |
| Alissandra Datuin | Benilde Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Member |
| Lizanne Mahinay | Benilde Office of Culture and Arts – Karilyo | Member |
| Chenelle Navidad | Benildean Press Corps | News Editor |
| Romek Antonio G. Macandili | Chemical Engineering Society, DLSU | President |
| Anna San Pedro | Chemical Engineering Society, DLSU | Vice President for Documentations |
| Mj Perez de Tagle | Coro San Benildo | Member |
| Camille Duka | CULTURA DLSU | AVP for Marketing and Publicity |
| Paola Karolina Amon | DANUM DLSU | President |
| Maria Angelina Rofuli | De La Salle Lipa | Student |
| Eunice Maderazo | De La Salle Lipa | Grade 12 HUMSS Representative |
| Luzille Marian Buenaflor | De La Salle Voices | Secretary |
| James Ramirez | De La Salle Voices | Member |
| Angelika Marie Magugat | De La Salle Voices | Member |
| Nadine Gonzales | De La Salle Voices | Member |
| Visia Fara CCalingasan | De La Salle Voices | Treasurer |
| Antonette Duka | Diwa ng Kabataang Lasalyano | Member |
| Nora Mamalangkay | Diwa ng Kabataang Lasalyano | Chairwoman |
| Maria Ana Gonzalez | DLSU Behavioral Sciences Society | Vice President for Marketing |
| Rowell Madula | Filipino Department, DLSU | Associate Professor |
| Janina Robledo | DLSU-D Junior Marketing Association | Vice President for Publicity & Communications |
| Nadine Pambid | DLSU-D Junior Marketing Association | Member |
| Kara Avecilla | EDGE2018 | Batch President |
| Iveron Clarice D.Sta. Ana | European Studies Association | Junior Officer for Marketing and Publicity |
| Krisvin Louis G. Briones | FAST2018 | Legislative Assembly Representative |
| David Michael San Juan | Filipino Department, DLSU | Associate Professor |
| Lourdes Mendoza | Information Technology Department, DLSU | Associate Professor |
| Reeya Beatrice Magtalas | Kabataan Partylist Vito Cruz | Education Officer |
| Lara Ibay | Kilusan ng mga Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan | Chairwoman |
| Kiarra Ritz Caballero | Kilusan ng mga Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan | |
| Angela Mistranza | Kilusan ng mga Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan | Secretary-General |
| Ma. Leonor M. Farochilen | Lasallian Computer Society | Officer in charge for Assistant Secretary |
| Iñigo Lapuz | Ley La Salle | Member |
| Carlos Manalo | Media Max | President |
| Sam Baguhin | Office of Culture and Arts — Karilyo | Assistant Company Manager |
| Gizelle Menia | One La Salle for Human Rights and Democracy | Convenor |
| Alyssa Joie F. Tablada | Pana Verde | Tagapamahalang Patnugot |
| Lauren Angela Chua | Pana Verde | Associate Editor-in-Chief |
| Hannah L. Lacaden | Pana Verde | Punong Patnugot |
| Arvin Isidro | Panday Sining CSB | Chairperson |
| Bernice Jajalla | Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Sikolohiya (SMS) | President |
| Micka Yngson | Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Sikolohiya (SMS) | Vice President for Marketing |
| Coleen Galura | Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Sikolohiya (SMS) | Executive Vice President |
| Barex Dimalibot | Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon | President |
| James Carwyn Candila | Senior High School Student Council, DLSU | Grade 12 HUMSS Representative-elect |
| Vidal Villanueva, Jr. | Senior Student Coordinating Board (SHS Dept.), DLSL | STEM Strand Representative |
| Julianne Villaluz | Teatro Lasalyano | |
| Redianne Sac | Teatro Lasalyano | Member |
| Marielle Calicdan | The Animo | Managing Editor |
| Robin Cunanan | The Animo | Associate Editor |
| Bea Mae Punongbayan | The Animo | Editor-in-Chief |
| Bea Mae Punongbayan | The Animo | Editor-in-Chief |
| Jared Joven | The Benildean Filmworks | Vice President |
| Marjorie Alanzalon | The HERALDO FILIPINO | News Staff |
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