Gold, Guns and Goons

GOLD: The people have a limited choice such as for the presidency.

Declared net worth of selected presidential candidates: P1.05 billion – Manuel Villar, Jr. P232.43 million – Gilbert Teodoro, Jr. P35.86 million – Joseph Estrada P25.62 million – Richard Gordon P13.94 million – Benigno Aquino, III * Based on latest available SALN as reported by PCIJ, 7 Feb 2010.

Estimated campaign budets: P2-6 billion – president P200-600 million – senator P15-100 million – congressman Total TV, radio and print advertising value of selected presidential candidates from Nov 2009 to January 2010 (three months before campaign period): P1,024.2 million – Manuel Villar, Jr. P407.4 million – Gilbert Teodoro, Jr. P268.8 million – Benigno Aquino, III P244.6 million – Richard Gordon P90.1 million – Eddie Villanueva P84.3 million – Joseph Estrada * Ad value estimates from Nielsen Media as reported by PCIJ, 16 Feb 2010. Actual ad spending may be at a 30-40% discount.

P10 – presidential candidate’s maximum allowed campaign spending per voter (i.e., P507.2 million given 50.7 million registered voters) P5 – political party’s maximum allowed campaign spending per voter (i.e., P253.6 million)

As of 2009: P82,400 – basic monthly salary of president P77,637 – highest basic monthly salary of vice-president P67,898 – highest basic monthly salary of a senator P67,898 – highest basic monthly salary of a congressman

Urban Militarization

Military units including the 103rd and 27th Battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are currently deployed in various urban-poor areas of Metro Manila such as BASECO, Dagat-dagatan and PNR Site.

Clad in full-battle gear, soldiers are known to ask the residents regarding the wherabouts of  progressive Party-list leaders and supporters.

Private Armies

Election-related killings: 1986 (153 deaths), 1988 (188), 1992 (89), 1995 (108), 1998 (77), 2001 (111), 2004 (189), 2007 (121), 2010 (89, reported by PIPVTR as of mid-March) (PNP, PIPVTR)

57 people killed in Ampatuan massacre in November 2009

132 – private armies with a combined strength of 10,000 armed men 1.2 million – unlicensed guns in circulation across the country * PNP estimates