The Philippine Online Chronicles

It started out as a dream. Tonyo Cruz of 100araw.com and I sat down with our laptops, sipping coffee in the cozy comfort of Bonifacio High Street musing over the future of Philippine elections. The namesake of this ritzy nook would have frowned upon the place but that afternoon, Andrés Bonifacio, the Filipino nationalist and revolutionary must have beamed proudly at us. It was a week before the official campaign period. Tonyo proposed our own citizen media coverage that would involve the cooperation of other online news media sites. The task seemed challenging then because my focus was on the platforms and issues of presidential candidates, voters education and automated elections. Tonyo seemed confident that things will work out and just as I envisioned Blog Watch coverage, we took a leap of faith. Three months later, we signed a memo of agreement between Global News Network (GNN)  and #juanvote at Krispy Kreme. GNN is just one of the partners of #juanvote.

The other partners are Philippine Online Chronicles, Reklamotion, Code Radio, Vote Report Philippines 2010, Worker's Electoral Watch, Gameops, TXTPower, RockEd Radio, Global Destiny, 100araw.com and Blog Watch.

So what is #juanvote?

Filipino netizens formed #juanvote network to monitor elections online. The country's internet users have come together to form a network to keep a close watch on the May 10, 2010 elections. The name #juanvote is used because the network calls on citizens to use hi-tech means to expose and hopefully thwart electoral fraud and violence. The #juanvote also aims to document the country's first nationwide automated elections.

You are part of #juanvote.

#juanvote challenges all Filipino netizens to be champions of Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections by taking action on May 10.

This May 10 we would have two “firsts”:  The first nationwide automated elections, and the first social media coverage to be mounted by citizens.

We must not just vote: We must use all our powers as social media users to help others vote and to guard the vote. Armed with our cellphones, digital cameras, and social media tools, we can make a difference.

This simple guide aims to empower us with knowledge on what, when and how to report.

Where you can find #juanvote

• Web/Livestream http://juanvote.com
• Twitter Follow @juanvote or monitor tweets using the hashtag #juanvote
• Facebook Search for #juanvote
• Cable TV Destiny Cable GNN Channel 21 (also on livestream at http://juanvote.com
• Radio Via Code Radio (NU107/Magic 89.9/U92.3/Jam88.3)
• Other media outlets

Where to report

#juanvote welcomes all types of reports through the following:

• Twitter Use hashtag #juanvote
• Email report@juanvote.com
• Text and send to any of the following numbers:
  • 09274004190
  • 09995178201
  • 09223913567

When to report

Timing is important: Immediately report incidents to #juanvote and our partners.

What to report

REPORT ANY INCIDENT THAT VIOLATES THIS GENERAL RULE: All eligible voters have a right to vote freely and to have those votes counted quickly and accurately to determine the winners in the electoral contests.

Voting Issues

• Delays in opening of precincts
• Preventing any registered voter to cast a vote
• Missing names of registered voters in List of Voters
• Receiving a ballot that has already been pre-marked or with shading
• Any person checking out how a voter is casting a vote (violation of privacy and secrecy)
• Precinct runs out of ballots (If precinct runs out of ballots, a voter should be allowed to cast votes in next precinct)
• Precinct runs out of markers
• Precinct has wrong ballot
• Suspension of voting for whatever purpose
• Non-use or unavailability of indelible ink to mark voters who have already voted
• Premature closing of precincts

Automated Election System Issues

• No PCOS machine in precinct
• PCOS machine malfunctions
• PCOS machine rejects ballots
• CF card (memory card) malfunctions
• Brownouts at any time on Election Day at the precincts
• Unauthorized personnel (non-COMELEC) accessing the PCOS machine
• Stealing or destruction of the PCOS machine

Election Violence

• Unauthorized presence of armed military or police personnel
• Unauthorized presence of unidentifiable armed persons (private armies, militias)
• Fighting in precincts, polling centers and canvassing centers
• Any physical  attack or threat of physical attack against any teacher or official authorized by the COMELEC, or against any voter, any group of voters, any candidate, or supporters of any candidate or party

COMELEC: Prohibited acts on Election Day

• Campaigning
• Selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor
• Giving, accepting free transportation, food, drinks and things of value
• Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against any candidate or any political party within the polling place or within thirty (30) meters thereof
• Voting more than once or in substitution of another
• Holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or other any other similar sports
• Opening of booths or stalls for the sale, etc., of merchandise, or refreshments within a radius of thirty meters from the polling place

Other Hotlines

• COMELEC: 525-9296, 5259345, 5275574, 5271892, 5259335, 5259294, 5270821, 5259297
• PPCRV: 5253476, 5265694, 5260869, 5261417, 5260012, 5236574, 5254992, 5264572, 5262248
• NAMFREL: 4704151, 4847590, 0927-9611524, 0919-3389344
• KONTRA DAYA: 5693427, 0921-2953004, 0915-2332413

Visit http://juanvote.com

Photos by Anton Sheker. Some Rights Reserved.