Bulatlat: Writing for the People

I first heard of Bulatlat through a friend and former colleague, Gem Muzones. She was the former Features editor of The Scholastican. She had her internship in Bulatlat two years ago; she told me about her internship experience in Bulatlat; on how they would assign her to cover mobs one after the other, and how they had helped her open her eyes and mind to the real world. Gem encouraged me to consider Bulatlat when I apply for internship.

And that was months before I became active in College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). When I was elected as CEGP-NCR Chair, I had the privileged to attend forums, workshops, and gatherings that introduced me to the world they call “tibak world”; there I met Carlos Conde, and Len Olea, two of Bulatlat’s editor. Sir Caloy is one of those journalists I looked up to; he is a New York Times correspondent, a known progressive journalist that once put in the OB list of AFP. Ms. Len, on the other hand, was the former CEGP National President and is the first woman to be elected as one.

Having been part of CEGP for a while, Bulatlat is no longer a stranger to me. I know the quality of articles and researches they produce. Working for Bulatlat or for anything similar to their nature was a no surprise to me and to my friends.

Bulatlat may sound ‘tabloidish’, but it is not. It is the total opposite of tabloid, and most of the time even of mainstream dominant broadsheets and news sites; it offers alternative journalism. Alternative, meaning it writes what the dominant does not. It looks at the other side and at the behind of every story.

As what Sir Benjie Oliveros and other Bulatlat editors would remind us (interns), “Always remember that you are writing for the people; people who are unrepresented and marginalized. Write issues not just because they exist but because they affect lives of people.”

How Did I Get Here?

My initial internship plan was to have a hundred working hours each for BULATLAT and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). It was on the second week of March when I applied in both media outfits; sent them CVs and letters via email.

CMFR was the first to reply; Sir Hector Bryant Macale emailed me and said he’s going to schedule the examination and interview. I kind of expecting a good response from them since I was already part of the election monitoring team which has started early February, and Sir Bryant also assured me of an internship slot and all I need to do was send them my CV and OJT letter.

If my memory serves me right, it was on the last week of March when I was asked to go to CMFR’s office in Makati for examination and interview. The exam and interview went okay; I was asked to write an article on journalists killings (which is my favorite topic, by the way) and edit a Senate PR. The interview part was more on orientation on what tasks I’ll be doing and who I’ll be doing it with.

Sir Bryant asked for my OJT schedule. I informed him that I am still waiting for my application in Bulatlat, but he told me that if I change my mind, I can always extend my internship in their office. I am scheduled to start my OJT stint on April 5.

A day after my CMFR interview, I received a confirmation letter from Bulatlat. They asked me to report to the office and have an OJT orientation on April 5.

Bulatlat or CMFR?

I really had a hard time deciding onto which media outfit I will go to on April 5.

CMFR is a great a media outfit; I have heard and read of them hundreds of times. I am a fan of PJR Reports and I have always wanted to write for it. I am also a fan of Dean Luis Teodoro, CMFR’s Director; I have always looked up to him as a great media icon; that every time I would see him in forums or seminars I attend outside the school, I still get starstrucked. Also, I must say, CMFR is one of the top media outfits that Journalism students applied to, and getting a slot is quite difficult.

Bulatlat, on the other hand, is my place to be. The kind of articles they write, and the events they cover are totally my kind of thing. They are into politics, activism, and pro-people journalism. I am also a fan of Carlos Conde, one of Bulatlat’s managing editors.

I am torn.

The Verdict

To help me come up with a rational decision, I checked my summer schedule (all the activities I have to attend to outside OJT). I figured out that I’ll need to take a 10-day leave for CEGP’s National Student Press Convention (NSPC) at Negros Occidental, and there’s no way I’ll miss that because I am the NCR Chair. With that, I’ll need an OJT site for the month of April that offers a more flexible work and working hours, and allows me to do out-of-town assignments.

So I decided to choose Bulatlat as my first OJT site. I am going to spend my whole April with them. I called up Sir Bryant and told him that I’ve decided to spend my first 100 hours with Bulatlat and explained to him why. He approved of my decision, and in return, I assured him that I am going to push through with my initial commitment (which is for the volunteer work for election monitoring). He said that I should call him once I am done with my stint and Bulatlat so he could free a slot in CMFR. But he also told me that he’s afraid that once I assume a post in May, there might not be enough tasks to work and spend my 100 hours on. (This sounded as though I am going to extend my OJT till June)

Change of Plan

But things have changed along the way. When I returned from NSPC, there’s still lot of things left to work on for Bulatlat, I have only accomplished four articles in my 10-day leave, and I only have barely two weeks to finish my 100 hours. There, I felt the need to extend. Another reason was I am starting to love the kind of articles I write, and the people I interview. The issues I write about are really close to my heart. I love my work, and it no longer feels work.

Instead of cutting my stint short, I decided to extend it and complete all my 200 hours of summer in Bulatlat.

I spent another month in Bulatlat and continued working and writing articles.

In the next 30 days of my stay, I was able cover, for the first time, the most looked forward protest rally every year, Mayo Uno Rally. I was also able to cover the elections in Lanao del Sur, and interview MILF Peace Panel Chairperson Mohammed Iqbal.

With my stay in Bulatlat, many doors of opportunities, great experiences and learning have opened for me. And there's no way I can thank them enough for all of these.

Poll Violations, Irregularities, Violence in Lanao Special Elections

http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/06/10/poll-violations-irregularities-violence-in-lanao-special-elections/

By ANNE EDNALYN V. DELA CRUZ
Bulatlat.com

AFP in Macadaagmasiu (Photo by Anne Ednalyn V. Dela Cruz / bulatlat.com)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared that the June 3 special elections in Lanao del Sur was generally peaceful. With this, the Arroyo government said the elections are almost over. However, Marawi City-based election watchdog Healing Democracy disagrees. It said the special elections in Lanao del Sur was marred by vote-buying and other poll violations, irregularities, violence, fear and intimidation.

Healing Democracy Project Manager Pastor Beltran Pacatang said the conduct of the recently-held special elections in Lanao del Sur did not differ much from the May 10 elections. The only difference was, this time, there were more military men guarding the precincts and police trainees were used as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

Police scorted Dumarpa supporters out of Municipal-hall (Photo by Anne Ednalyn V. Dela Cruz / bulatlat.com)

More than 2,000 security personnel, from both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were deployed to Lanao del Sur to maintain peace and order and secure more than 70, 000 registered voters of Lanao del Sur’s seven municipalities – Sultan Dumalondong, Lumba Bayabao, Masiu, Tubaran, Lumbaca Unayan, Marogong and Bayang.

But Healing Democracy said in a press statement, “The presence of military men and police officers did not deter the rampant vote-buying and election-related violence.”

Vote buying in Masiu Municipal Hall (Photos by Healing Democracy / bulatlat.com)

In Masiu, vote-buying was observed; and despite the implementation of a gun ban, armed men were spotted near the municipalities of Bayang and Tuburan.

Gunfire and clashes between political rivals still erupted in some municipalities. In Sultan Domalondong, two gunfire incidents were reported in two barangays: barangay Inindigan and barangay Bacayawan. Gunfire also erupted in Lumba Bayabao. However, no one was harmed in these incidents.

In Masiu, supporters of congressional rivals Salic Dumarpa and Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman clashed in a poll precinct.

Intimidation and Fear

Macadaag Masiu

PNP as beis in masiu.(Photos by Anne Ednalyn V. Dela Cruz / bulatlat.com)

More than one hundred soldiers were deployed in each municipality, with additional reconnaissance of two military helicopters, and armed personnel carriers and a naval boat was docked at Lanao Lake. This presence of too many armed security personnel caused terror and intimidation to voters.

Also, the monitoring team criticized ‘the overly strict management of the military’ as it has caused disenfranchisement of voters.

Pastor Pacatang shared that in the municipality of Tubaran, the poll precincts closed at 2 o clock in the morning the next day and yet many voters still failed to cast their votes. Voters had to go through two checking areas – one at the gate, and one on the poll precinct; then in the poll precincts only five voters at a time were allowed to vote.

“The process was slowed down further, and this is the price we have to pay for a little semblance of order,” Pastor Pacatang added.

Healing Democracy Spokesperson Adelaida Ditucalan said, “One disadvantage of having the military and the police officer taking charge of the elections is that their presence might influence, or worse, manipulate the election outcome”.

Pastor Pacatang added, “The military presence may have influenced the outcome of the votes in each municipality and may tend to favor the incumbent officials of the municipality”.

Unresolved Issues

Aside from violence and poll violations, defective Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, loss of electric supply and lack of Smartmatic technicians were some of the issues that remained unresolved during the special elections.

Some municipalities conducted elections with no power supply and were not able to use PCOS machines. In Masiu, five PCOS machines failed to function while in other areas, they decided not to use the PCOS machines at all.

In some municipalities, police officers had a hard time troubleshooting the PCOS machines because of the absence of Smartmatic technicians. According to a Comelec official interviewed by Healing Democracy, the contract with Smartmatic to assist BEIs does not cover the special elections.

Election Period Not Yet Over

Pastor Pacatang expressed his dismay over the government’s claim that the elections are almost over. With the president and vice-president’s scheduled proclamation this week, the government seemed to have forgotten that there are still votes left to canvass in seven municipalities of Lanao del Sur. And several barangays in eight municipalities of Lanao del Sur do not have a schedule for the special elections yet.

“It feels like there’s really no democracy. Democracy is giving the people equal rights and opportunities to be heard. In Lanao del Sur, there are more than 70, 000 votes left to be canvassed. If they won’t be considering it, then where’s democracy for the Lanao people? And with other barangays that have not voted yet, where’s the opportunity for them to practice their right to suffrage?” Pastor Pacatang said.

The eight municipalities where a failure of elections was declared but have not yet undergone special elections are Buadiposo-Buntong, Marantao, Calanogas, Ganassi, Pagawayan, Lumbatan, Kapai, and Tugaya, involving more or less 12, 000 voters.
Elections in the municipalities of Lumbatan, Kapai and Tugaya were affected by armed clashes last May 10.

Ending a Culture of Failure

In Lanao del Sur, the declaration of a failure of elections is no longer surprising for many, as it happens almost every elections. Violence and absence of election officers are the top two reasons for this.

Last 2007 elections, a failure of elections was declared in 13 municipalities, while this year 15 of the 39 municipalities in Lanao del Sur were affected, seven of which had a total failure of elections while the other eight municipalities had a failure of elections in selected barangays.

In the municipality of Sultan Domalondong, the incumbent mayor shared that a failure of elections is declared in their town almost every election since the early 90’s. The common reason is the disqualification of BEIs because of their blood relations with candidates.

This elections, same thing happened in the town, all, except one member, of the BEIs were disqualified. Sultan Domalondong is a small municipality and residents are most likely related to each other; and with 11 candidates running for the position of mayor, it is inevitable that candidates and BEIs are related to each other.

(Photos by Anne Ednalyn V. Dela Cruz / bulatlat.com)

For the other municipalities such as Tugaya, Lumbatan, and Kapai, armed clashes between supporters of rival candidates is the main cause. Election watchdogs such as Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Healing Democracy attribute this to the lenient implementation of the gun ban.

Pastor Pacatang said to prevent a failure of elections the government should implement the gun ban strictly and consistently, dismantle private armies, and for Comelec to prepare and anticipate conflicts and troubleshoot them even before the elections.

He added that the use of PCOS machines during elections or special elections is not effective for a place like Lanao del Sur where loss of electric supply normally occurs, and the clustering of 1000 voters in one precinct is not feasible. (Bulatlat.com)