MAGUINDANAO — Residents push their way inside a polling precinct in Buldon town. Hundreds of voters are getting impatient — shouting, shoving, banging the doors of the precinct, demanding that they be allowed in. An army soldier tries to break a scuffle while poll watchers and the BEIs insist that voting should be one at a time. This year’s elections, will serve as a test to Philippines’ fragile democracy. Once an inspiration to emerging democracies for its “people power” overthrow of the American-backed autocrat Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Philippines has suffered from poor governance in the past decade.
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2010 Elections: In Maguindanao and Elsewhere: Chaos, Violence, Fraud
By CARLOS H. CONDE
Despite the promise of order that computerization brings, the conduct of the elections in Maguindanao province and other areas in Mindanao leaves much to be desired.
2010 Elections: Violence, Glitches Mar First Five Hours of the Automated Elections
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The May 10 elections have officially began. As expected, the first five hours were far from smooth.