ABSTRACT
The main difference between the Philippine organizations and PollWatch is in their relation to the state. This chapter examines the criticism of PollWatch during the 1995 election campaign. It looks at PollWatch's concrete relations with the state and with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The chapter also examines the larger question of what "neutrality" means for PollWatch. The government-oriented non-governmental organization (GONGO) formula enables PollWatch to use the benefits of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. There is also criticism from the other side: rather than the state using NGOs, some see PollWatch as an organisation where the NGOs use the state for their own private or sectoral purposes. Relations with the government were mixed, depending on which government body, the chapter talks about: the Local Administration Department (LAD) of the Interior Ministry, the police, the Border Patrol Police, the Village Democracy Project, the Anti-Vote-Buying Committee, teachers, university lecturers or state enterprise workers.
