Presentation by Sara Jane Suguitan in the KAS Workshop "Political Communication in Asia" (Bali 2010)

1. Legal Network for Truthful Elections www.lente.org.ph

2. Why automate the elections?

4. Maguindanaoexposé, sole citizens’ watchgroup in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections,accountability 200720082010

5. 200820102011 3,000 volunteers 95% of all provinces 16 regions over 2,031 complaints documented <30 cases filed

6. Communications Goals Fill the ranks. Spread the gospel of democracy. Get Comelec accreditation. Put Lente in the map.

7. Audience

8. The LENTE Message House

10. Facebook

11. Twitter

12. Ushahidi

13. Lente.org.ph

14. Telecommunications (SMS)

15. Social Weather Station

16. Broadcast

17. including Provincial Radio Stations, PIA

18. Print and Online

19. Newsbreak

20. Vera Files

21. Inquirer

22. Star, Bulletin

24. Ensuring Detainees' Right to Suffrage

25. Ensuring the Right to Vote of our Katutubos

26. Advancing the Moslem Voters’ Rights (PCID)

27. Electoral Offenses

28. Lessons Learned from the 2008 ARMM Elections

29. The Social Responsibility of the Business Sector in Election Mobilization (CSM)

30. Absentee Voting

34. Institutional Partners

35. May 10, 2010 D-Day SOP 3 National Hotlines 16 Regional Hotlines 3,000 volunteers in 95% of the country Challenge: Verification Risk of “kuryente” (false reports)

36. Flow of Information from Field to Local Media

37. Flow of Information from Field to Mainstream Media

38. You know it’s an election offense if

39. Top Election Offenses Over-campaigning Vote buying Vote selling Illegal assistance Harassment Unlawful campaign Illegal voting (flying voters) Violation of gun ban Electoral sabotage

40. Mangyan paralegals. The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) trained members of the indigenous peoples of Mindoro island on the automated elections and prosecution of election offenders.

41. The Mangyan paralegals reported the following offenses: Hakot Writers Bribery and undue influence

42. Free ride on election day = unlawful electioneering

43. Special case: journalists’ legal concerns

47. Lessons Social networking sites served as a bulletin board. As to the automation, the electorate wanted change and yet had doubts about it. Lente made it harder to cheat. Comelec needs to improve communications. Vote buying is probably going to get bigger.

48. Thank you.