DAGDAG-BAWAS

The dagdag-bawas phenomenon became prevalent in the 1995 senatorial

elections because of the case filed by Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. against
Gregorio B. Honasan, Marcelo B. Fernan, Juan Ponce Enrile and Anna
Dominique M. L. Coseteng.

However, Sir Randy David speculate that it has been a feature of all past
elections.

The large number of candidates vying for limited senatorial seats, and
the small quantity of votes that seperated winners from losers.

( Table ng results ng 1995 Senatorial Elections )

The computerization of ballot processing may be as some critics claim,

just computerize cheating. Nevertheless, it will speed up the canvassing
of votes and the proclamation of winning candidates.

Sir Randy David also believes that we will soon be able to remove fraud in
the counting of votes is the vigilance and the passion continuously
instilled in our voters every year by the many organizations that conduct
training programs in poll-watching.

Poll-watching is no longer confined to spotting irregularities on election

day. Today it begins as early as registration day.

Former

Comelec

Commissioner

and

Parish

Pastoral

Council

for

Responsible Voting Director-General, Haydee Yorac, says that over the

years, enough safeguards have been instituted to prevent cheating. Yet
the most common source of fraud is still the tampering of election
returns at precinct level. The vital aspect of poll-watching therefore is
still basically the monitoring of the canvassing process.