THE National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Tuesday said that the May 14 election “is 90 percent credible.”

Despite the problems in getting access in poll areas and collecting the election returns (ERs), especially in some areas in Mindanao, Edward Go, Namfrel national chairman, said the collective efforts of several election watchdogs, including the Church-based groups Parish-Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the National Secretariat for Social Action, Peace and Justice helped in uncovering attempted cheating, vote-buying and other forms of electoral fraud.

“Hopefully in 2010, there would be special focus in these difficult areas and make the polls credible even in such problem areas,” Go said in a press briefing. Go has tendered his resignation from Namfrel as its chairman. Namfrel is also set to submit its assessment data to the Commission on Elections next week.

Eric Alvia, Namfrel secretary-general, meanwhile, said that the recent election is “reflective of the people’s will.”

“In general, people were free to vote, it was reflective of the people’s will,” he said, citing that there were only particular areas that Namfrel volunteers were prevented from gathering ERs.

Alvia said:  “We were a week ahead compared to the 2004 elections,” noting that Namfrel managed to count the votes from 88.21 percent or 198,247 precincts out of the 224,748 total polling precincts.

In the previous polls, Namfrel was able to process 83 percent of the polling precincts.

PRESIDENT Arroyo has reportedly tapped retired Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia to assume the chairmanship of the government panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

APPARENTLY irked by a gun-wielding Lintang Bedol who proudly posed before members of the media, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a warrant of arrest for the controversial Maguindanao elections supervisor for his “repeated disobedience” to heed orders from his superiors.

COTABATO CITY—Gunmen holding Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi have implied through a text message that their captive is still alive.

THE National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Tuesday said that the May 14 election “is 90 percent credible.”

CONGRESSMEN called on the House leadership on Tuesday to start the investigation into allegations of extortion committed by members of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments (CA) at the soonest possible time to give due process to all concerned and prevent the issue from being muddled by individuals who want to discredit the House.

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has filed criminal charges against 10 more policemen for allegedly bungling their assigned drug cases by not appearing in court hearings.