Philippine general election, 2007

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.
Voting box icon This article or section contains information about a forthcoming or ongoing election.
Content may change dramatically as the election approaches and unfolds.
Philippines

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
the Philippines
Government
Political history · Constitution
Executive
President (list)
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Vice President (list)
Noli de Castro

Executive Departments
(The Cabinet)
Congress
13th Congress
Senate House
President
Manuel Villar		 Speaker Jose
de Venecia
Judiciary
Supreme Court

Chief Justice Reynato Puno
Court of Appeals · Sandiganbayan
Court of Tax Appeals · Ombudsman
Elections
Commission on Elections

2007 | 2004 | 2001 | 1998
1995 | 1992 | 1987 | 1986 | All
Political parties
Lakas-CMD
Kampi
Liberal		 LDP
PMP
NPC		 Nacionalista
AD
Others
Administrative divisions
Capital
Regions
Provinces
 Cities
Municipalities
Barangays

Foreign relations
Human rights
Other countries · Politics Portal
view • talk • edit

Legislative and local elections are to be held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions being contested include half the seats in the Senate. The 2007 Elections are known as the Philippine midterm election as the election date falls half-way through President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's current six-year term. All the seats in the Philippine House of Representatives are up for grabs. Representatives are elected for three year terms. The duly elected legislators of the 2007 elections will join the elected senators of the 2004 elections and will comprise the 14th Congress of the Philippines.

Most representatives win seats by being elected directly, the constituency being a geographical district comprising of about 250,000 voters. There are 212 seats in total for all the legislative districts. There are also seats for organized representation of special minorities. Such representatives gain one seat for every 2% of the total number of votes in the national electorate, but are limited to three seats. Local elections for governor, vice governor, provincial board seats (provinces only) and mayoral, vice mayoral, and city/municipal council seats in Metro Manila and the provinces are up for grabs as well.

Contents

[edit] Official candidates

On March 19, 2007 the Commission on Elections released Resolution No.7832 which has finalized and approved the official candidates for the senatorial election. Then on March 24, 2007 the Commission on Elections has certified has the 37 Senatorial Candidates:[1] On regards to Joselito Pepito "Peter" Cayetano, he is declared a nuisance candidate after the resolution made by the COMELEC on March 27, 2007 on the disqualification case (SPA 07-019) filed by Genuine Opposition Senatorial Candidate Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. Then it fully certified 36 of the original 37 candidates on March 29, 2007.

[edit] Political parties

Party name Acronym Founding year Leader
Together Everyone Achieves More Unity (TEAM Unity)
Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino KAMPI 1996 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Chairman)
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino LDP 1985 Edgardo Angara (Chairman)
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Lakas-CMD 1991 Jose De Venecia
Liberal Party (Atienza Wing) LP 1945/2005 Lito Atienza
Nationalist People's Coalition
(Cojuangco Wing)		 NPC 1991/2007 Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.
Philippine Democratic Socialist Party PDSP 1973 Norberto Gonzalez
Genuine Opposition (GO)
Aksyon Demokratiko AD 1997 Sonia Roco
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (Marcos Wing) KBL 1978/2007 Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Liberal Party (Drilon Wing) LP 1945/2005 Franklin Drilon
Nacionalista Party NP 1907/2003 Manuel Villar
Nationalist People's Coalition
(Escudero Wing)		 NPC 1991/2007 Francis Escudero
Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan PDP-LABAN 1984 Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.
Partido Magdalo MAGDALO 2007 Antonio Trillanes IV
Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino PMP 1987 Joseph Estrada
Other Political Parties
Ang Kapatiran AKP 2004 Nandy Pacheco (founder)
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (Lozano Wing) KBL 1978/2007 Oliver Lozano
Philippine Green Republican Party PGRP 2003 Felix Cantal
Philippine Guardians Brotherhood PGB 2007 Gregorio Honasan
Nationalist People's Coalition (Gomez Wing) NPC 1991/2007 Richard Gomez

[edit] TEAM Unity

TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Unity is a coalition composed mostly of supporters and erstwhile critics of current Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. TEAM Unity seeks to take several Senate seats in oder to ensure the passage of President Arroyo's legislative programs and also to protect her from any impeachment attempts by the political opposition after the midterm elections.

Team Unity is composed by different major political parties in the country such as Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), Liberal Party (Atienza Wing), Nationalist People's Coalition - Cojuangco Wing (NPC), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), and the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).

The campaign team of TEAM Unity is headed by veteran political strategist Reli German (campaign manager), Tourism Secretary Ace Durano (spokesperson) and Ike Rodriguez (campaign director).

Team Unity has recently held its proclamation rally at the Cebu Coliseum last February 17.

  • Michael Defensor[2] - (Liberal Party-Atienza Wing) former Presidential Chief of Staff (2006-2007), former Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (2001-2006), former Head of National Housing Authority (2001), former Quezon City Representative (1995-1998; 1998-2001)
  • Juan Miguel Zubiri - (Lakas-CMD), incumbent Representative (1998-2001; 2001-2004; 2004-2007) from the province of Bukidnon and author of the recently-approved Biofuels Act of 2006.
  • Tessie Aquino-Oreta - (NPC-Cojuangco Wing), former Senator (1998-2004), former Representative (1987-1992; 1992-1995; 1995-1998) and sister of Benigno Aquino Jr.
  • Prospero Pichay Jr. - (KAMPI) incumbent Representative of Surigao del Sur (1998-2001; 2001-2004; 2004-2007), Co-Chairman of Congressional Committee of Appointments.
  • Cesar Montano[a] - (Lakas-CMD) industrial engineering graduate from Lyceum, award-winning movie actor and director, and UNESCO commissioner
a. ^  Leyte governor Jericho Petilla filed his candidacy on February 12, 2007 but signified interest in withdrawing in the Senate race after his mother, Remedios decided not to run as governor of Leyte. Cesar Montano, an TV/movie actor, was chosen to replace Petilla according to spokesperson Ace Durano. [4]

[edit] Genuine Opposition (GO)

The United Opposition Coalition was created by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay on June 2005 to unite all politicians who wish to impeach Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The UNO started scouting candidates for the Senate as early as October 2006 to claim a large share in the Senate seats. On January 2007, UNO started short listing its nominees after a large number interested personalities wanted to join the opposition. The UNO has changed its name on February 12, 2007 at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila to "Grand and Broad Coalition" (GBC). On February 15, 2007 the group changed its named again to "Genuine Opposition" (GO) after a meeting with Senate President Manny Villar in his office in Las Piñas. Though the Senate President Manny Villar and Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan are running under the Opposition, they remain independent candidates as in the 2001 election. On February 28, 2007, the Genuine Opposition dropped Francis Pangilinan as its Adopted Candidate.

The GO had its proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila on February 25, 2007.[5]

  • Panfilo Lacson - (Genuine Opposition) incumbent Senator (2001-2007), former Philippine National Police Chief (1998-2001) and former Presidential Candidate (2004)
1. ^  Guest candidate

[edit] Liberal Party

[edit] Philippine Guardians Brotherhood

  • Gringo Honasan - (Philippine Guardians Brotherhood) Senator (1995-2001; 2001-2004), cashiered military officer (with the rank of Colonel)

[edit] Nationalist People's Coalition (Gomez Wing)

[edit] Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)

  • Gen. Eduardo Orpilla (ret) - (KBL-Lozano Wing) retired PNP officer/businessman.
  • Ruben Enciso - (KBL-Lozano Wing) journalist
  • Antonio "Tony" Estrella - (KBL) International Lawyer, Professor of Law at the Philippine Public Safety College-National Police College, International Civil Rights Lawyer Member of the International Bar Association, and a recipient of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Award of Excellence and Outstanding Service for Public Interest.

Muslim KBL Senatorial Candidate Mujahib Hashim was disqualified by the COMELEC in its Resolution No. 7832 because his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) says: Habib "Boggs" Hashim and not Mujahib Hashim which meant that his COC is unsubscribed and unsworn therefore was disqualified and declared a nuisance candidate. On regards to Joselito Pepito "Peter" Cayetano, he is declared a nuisance candidate after the resolution made by the COMELEC on March 27, 2007 on the disqualification case (SPA 07-019) filed by Genuine Opposition Senatorial Candidate Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

[edit] Ang Kapatiran

  • Zossimo Jesus Paredes II - Former executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement who resigned at the height of the Philippine government's perceived protection of convicted American rapist Daniel Smith after the latter's transfer of detention from the Makati City jail to the US Embassy compound. He is also the brother of Ducky and Jim Paredes.
  • Dr. Martin Bautista - Gastroenterologist who had spent the last 17 years working in the United States. Last year, he went home for good with his wife and four daughters and was later convinced to run under the Ang Kapatiran ticket.
  • Adrian Sison - Seasoned lawyer specializing in taxation and family law.

[edit] Philippine Green Republican Party

[edit] Withdrawn official candidates

  • Mario Ongkiko[7] - (Independent/Ang Kapatiran) lawyer
  • Jericho Petilla filed his candidacy on February 12, 2007 but signified interest in withdrawing in the Senate race after his mother, Remedios decided not to run as governor of Leyte. Cesar Montano was chosen to replace Petilla according to spokesperson Ace Durano. [8]


[edit] Issues

Among the issues are the on-going efforts by the Administration and others to amend the Philippine Constitution to shift the country from an bicameral and presidential system to a unicameral and parliamentary system, and by the opposition to oust President Arroyo through various means. The opposition is this case includes the UNO as well as other groups and individuals not in the UNO. The UNO is now known as the GO (see above).

[edit] Campaign

Candidates continue to make use of different campaign platforms to win. Prospero Pichay, Manny Villar, Mike Santiago, and Loren Legarda have been very visible in TV ads. Tessie Aquino Oreta has raised different reactions in her TV ad campaign asking the people’s forgiveness being the “dancing queen” during the impeachment of deposed President Joseph Estrada. Some candidates like Chiz Escudero, Vic Magsaysay, Kiko Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes and Koko Pimentel made use of the internet by joining networks sites like Friendster; making or updating wikipedia entries, establishing blogs and websites and airing the commercials on You Tube.

[edit] Problems

After a month on the campaign trail, fiancial problems are hounding both the administration and opposition candidates. Team Unity senatorial bets Cesar Montano and Sultan Jamalul Kiram III are reportedly backing out of the race. Both of them said that they are not backing out of the race and its was just that they are having some financial problems. Likewise, Genuine Opposition campaign manager JV Ejercito said that their resources are already running out because only his father, deposed President Joseph Estrada is funding their campaign. Another problem for the GO is the frequent cancellation of their provincial sorties due to lack of local coordinators that will bring people into their rallies.

[edit] COMELEC issues

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is facing scrutiny because of the fire that hit its old building on March 11 resulting in speculations of conspiracies to cheat on the May 14 election [2]. The COMELEC is also being lambasted for publishing on the internet the names, addresses and details of registered voters

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Defensor to run as senator; Pagdanganan eyes old post
  3. ^ Senate campaign period starts today – Comelec
  4. ^ http://www.gmanews.tv/story/30899/Cesar-Montano-in-Leyte-Gov-Petilla-out-of-Arroyo-coalition
  5. ^ http://www.gmanews.tv/story/30748/Cash-strapped-opposition-scraps-proclamation-rally
  6. ^ Escudero files bid for Senate, dispels talk he is bolting UNO
  7. ^ Top lawyer bows out of senatorial race
  8. ^ http://www.gmanews.tv/story/30899/Cesar-Montano-in-Leyte-Gov-Petilla-out-of-Arroyo-coalition
Philippine general elections Flag of Philippines
v • d • e
1897 (Mar) | 1897 (Nov) | 1907 | 1909 | 1912 | 1916 | 1919 | 1922 | 1925 | 1928 | 1931 | 1934 | 1935 | 1938 | 1941 | 1943 | 1946 | 1947 | 1949 | 1951 | 1953 | 1955 | 1957 | 1959 | 1961 | 1963 | 1965 | 1967 | 1969 | 1971 | 1978 | 1981 | 1984 | 1986 | 1987 | 1992 | 1995 | 1998 | 2001 | 2004 | 2007 | 2010
Philippine Constitutional Convention elections Flag of Philippines
1934 | 1970
Philippine referenda Flag of Philippines
1935 | 1937 | 1947 | 1973 (Jan) | 1973 (Jul) | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1981 (Apr) | 1981 (Jun) | 1984 | 1987
Philippine local elections Flag of Philippines
v • d • e
1895 | 1905 | 1909 | 1937 | 1940 | 1941 | 1943 | 1946 | 1949 | 1951 | 1953 | 1955 | 1957 | 1959 | 1961 | 1963 | 1965 | 1967 | 1969 | 1971 | 1980 | 1988 | 1992 | 1995 | 1998 | 2001 | 2004 | 2007 | 2010
Philippine Sangguiniang Bayan elections Flag of Philippines
1975 (December 10) | 1975 (December 14) | 1975 (December 23)
Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections Flag of Philippines
1982 | 1989 | 1992 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997 | 2002 | 2007
Philippine Kabataang Barangay elections Flag of Philippines
1975
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections
1990 | 1993 | 1996 | 2001 | 2005
Cordillera Administrative Region plebiscites Flag of Philippines
1998
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../p/h/i/Philippine_general_election%2C_2007.html"