National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel)

Mr. Albert Oasan and Mr. Lester Toribio of NAMFREL participated in a voters education symposium at the University of the East on January 18, attended by about 200 Political Science and Legal Management students and faculty.

Concerns raised by the students during the symposium include the scenario of having failure of election and a possible back-up plan of the Comelec. The representative from the Comelec who also spoke during the event said in a worst case scenario, the plan is to revert to manual election. A comment was raised by a professor regarding NAMFREL’s presentation, which highlighted vulnerabilities of the system. He said NAMFREL is creating a skeptical or cynical picture of the status quo that instead of encouraging students to participate, they are being discouraged instead. NAMFREL responded that they are showing the harsh reaities and negative conditions to help convince people to action.

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The Student Council of Rizal Technological University, in cooperation with NAMFREL Mandaluyong, held a voters education symposium on January 12, attended by about a hundred students and faculty. Mr. Albert Oasan of NAMFREL discussed some of the problems currently faced by the country and how the youth can help solve them. He also discussed how NAMFREL started and its contribution to clean and credible election as part of citizens’ social responsibility to preserve democracy. Mr. Oasan called on the youth to participate in the coming election, specifically to get involved in NAMFREL. Mr. Terry Nolasco, NAMFREL Mandaluyong City chairperson, expressed his desire to partner with RTU students for the coming election.

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Graduating Sociology students of the University of Sto. Tomas held on December 9 a forum on the automated election, attended by representatives from NAMFREL, PPCRV, and Comelec. Mr. Albert Oasan of NAMFREL discussed issues concerning the automated process and Namfrel’s role for May 2010, and how the youth could get involved.

The forum was attended by about a hundred students from the College of Arts and Letters (Sociology, Psychology and Political Science). Some of the concerns raised by the students include ballot rejection by the machines due to incorrect markings, and the roles of NAMFREL and PPCRV in the coming election.

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Mass Communication students of St. Scholastica’s College in Manila organized a voters’ education forum entitled “Auto-Boto: Alam mo ba kung paano at sino?” on December 7. Representatives from NAMFREL, Lente, PPCRV, Political Arena, and Comelec spoke at the event, attended by more than a hundred college students. Some of the students’ concerns addressed by the speakers were the legality of the candidacies of Presidents Arroyo and Estrada, the issue of non-replacement of ballots when a mistake is committed by the voter, and youth participation in the coming election through organizations like NAMFREL. The organizations represented in the forum said they welcome volunteers from the youth sector.

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Jose Rizal University in Mandaluyong had their Voters’ Education Program on December 5, organized by the Dean for Student Affairs, the student council, some faculty members, and NAMFREL Mandaluyong City chair Mr. Terry Nolasco.

Mr. Albert Oasan and Atty. Moses V. Florendo gave the talk for NAMFREL. They discussed youth participation in elections, youth empowerment and students’ involvement through election monitoring groups like NAMFREL. One of the students’ concerns was how to trust the electoral system when irregularities have happened in past elections. Atty. Florendo urged the students to not tolerate similar things that could happen, to be involved, and to trust themselves that they can help bring credibility to the system.

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