PHILIPPINES : Government poll body Comelec asks TV networks to stop ‘unauthorized’ quick counts

MANILA, Philippines -- The US-Arroyo Regime's Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked the two television networks ABS-CBN and GMA7 to stop the quick counts as they were “unauthorized.”

The US-Arroyo regime was greatly alarmed that the quick count reports showed the opposition and the progressive party-list groups like GABRIELA BAYAN MUNA and ANAKPAWIS are leading the exit polls and the quick count and are trashing the administration candidates all over the nation.

The exit polls disprove the admisntration early "trending " results and spin that they will win hands down in Visayas and Mindanao. The quick count form the media oulets also confirmed the survey conducted by poll agencies like PULSE ASIA and the SWS that the opposition are heavily winning in all areas.

At the press time, the Geneuine Opposition (G0) is winning by 8 spots and most of its candiates for senators are within the winning column of 12. While the most rabid GMA supporters like Mike Defensor and Chavi Singson are far, far behind.

COMELEC Toes GMA line- "Trending! "

in a press conference in Manila , Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said only Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) is accredited by the poll body to do a quick count. “The stations should not do it because it confuses our people. It shows trending and we do not allow trending because they might be reporting from places favorable to their candidates of choice,” he said.

The COMELEC toes the US-Arroyo regime line that the print and TV media are "trending" are frustrating he adminsitration propaganda that they will win heavily in Mindanao and the Visayas which is not the case.

GMA-7 is using the AMA quick count while ABS-CBN is using STI.

“Our agreement with them is that they will report what they see, and the exit polls. This is not under the exit polls anymore. They are not supposed to consolidate votes…They are not supposed to report unofficial counts. We are requesting them to put a stop to the quick count,” he added.

Abalos also noted that the sources of the numbers the two networks release are not known. The public has a right to correct information, “not unofficial counts,” he stressed

COMELEC THREATENS TV NETWORKS

The poll chief said the television networks might be cited for contempt if they continue with their quick counts. He said the Comelec’s education and information department has already made representations with the two networks.

“We will impose sanctions [if they don’t follow], but I don’t think they will disregard our instructions…They can be cited for contempt,” he said.

“For instance, the initial count by the Comelec that we just finished, you report that and that’s OK, that’s reporting…The people are entitled to know from which precincts the figures are and if they’re complete,” he added.

Abalos said the computer schools AMA and STI are not part of the order because they are just “tools.”

Earlier, officials of the administration’s TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Unity criticized the quick counts of the two television networks becasue tit will foil their strategy of dumping the opposition in the canvasing in the Mindanao and Visayas area..

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