by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
Picture above shows Ms. Lorena B. Tumbagahan (right), election registrar of Kalibo and Comelec spokeperson for Aklan giving updates of election automation for the May 2010 national and local elections to the members of the tri-media during the Saturday, Sept. 19 Kapehan Sa Aklan held in Kusina Sa Kalibo. At her right is Mr. Juan Ruiz, Jr., Comelec registrar - Ibajay.
The September 19, 2009 Kapehan forum honed on voters’ education for the forthcoming May 10, 2010 national and local elections. Comelec registrars led by Ms. Lorena B. Tumbagahan – Kalibo, Mr. Juan Z. Ruiz, Jr. – Ibajay and Ms. Concepcion T. Ruiz – Nabas briefed the public and members of the tri-media on election updates, the rules and guidelines on the automated election.
Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino on the importance of suffrage quoted US Supreme Court ruling in Perez vs. Soller, 40 Off. Gaz., Third Supp. 266 said that, "As long as popular government is an end to be achieved and safeguarded, suffrage whatever may be the modality or form devised, must continue to be the means by which the great reservoir of power must be emptied into the receptacular agencies brought by the people through their Constitution in the interest of good government and the commonweal. Republicanism in so far as it implies the adoption of a representative type of government, necessarily points to the enfranchised citizens as a particle of popular sovereignty and as the ultimate source of established authority."
Ms. Tumbagahan said that our Supreme Court has validated automated election despite vigorous opposition and fears of failure of election in the country’s first ever tried electronic voting system. Out of 3 million estimated voter registrants both new and transferees nationwide, some 2.3 million have gone through their biometric machine data processing. In order to accommodate students, professionals and fully employed individuals, Comelec offices are open everyday including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Official deadline for registration is October 31, 2009, emphasized the lady registrar.
Comelec Resolution No. 8446 shows the Calendar of Activities to wit: November 20 – 30, 2009 Filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for both national and local elective posts; February 9 – May 8, 2010, campaign period for national candidate; March 26 – May 8, 2010, campaign period for local candidates; May 10, 2010, election day; Jan. 10 – June 9, 2010, election period (prohibitive acts cited in Omnibus Election Code RA 9369 will be in effect).
Out of 2058 original precincts, Comelec has drastically reduced this to 562. Strategy includes clustering of small precincts but not to exceed 1500 voters. Where 5 precincts are involved, there shall be 6 members of the Board of Election Canvassers (BEC). In the case of 2 precincts, only 3 BEC members will be appointed.
Picos machine will be provided by Smartmatic and PIM in all polling places using paper based voting system, said Ms. Tumbagahan. Voter simply shades or darkens oval portion of the ballot corresponding to the candidates’ name of his choice. After completion, voter personally feeds the ballot into the machine of Precinct Count Optical Scan. (Those unable to perform above task can be aided by a closed relative or any person that he/she could trust.)
A member of BEC presses a button and automatically canvass the ballot. With another button digital copy of canvass is furnished the Municipal Board of Canvassers. Procedure is the same for second and third levels of Board of Canvassers.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, election results for local posts will be known within 24 hours. Tumbagahan said that winning candidates for national positions may be officially known a little bit later since the President and the Vice President are proclaimed by Congress. On the other hand, senators are administered by the Supreme Court.
Comelec is scheduled to conduct mock election or dry run using Automated machine in order to familiarize/educate voters and members of the BEC. Exact date, places and time may be announced later by the agency.
Meanwhile, to minimize fraud or irregularity is one vital aspect in the conduct of honest, clean, and credible elections. Cleansing process involve identifying double registrants and inactive voters, the latter because of failure to vote in previous two elections. Illegal acts like double registration and voting according to the Omnibus Election Code is punishable by six (6) years imprisonment and permanent disqualification to hold public office.
One issue and concern is the obvious loophole in the Omnibus Election Code that allows premature campaigning activities of prospective candidates. Supreme Court upholds such ruling for as long as no COC has been filed with the Comelec. Anyone for this matter could make covert and overt campaign speeches through the tri-media. Media mileage could most likely prejudice other aspirants who are financed with a moderate budget.
Of what use then is Comelec Resolution declaring official start of campaign period when there is ample two months leeway from that date before the start of filing COC?
Election offenses particularly vote buying, ballot box snatching, vote rigging, and others. always feature in Philippine traditional politics. Nevertheless, violators seem immune from criminal prosecution. Worse, when some gets rewards and promotion to choice government positions. Hello Garci tape and Jocjoc fertilizer scandals stink to high heavens because of lapses in law enforcement and moral degeneration.
Considering that 23 percent of new voters is still unregistered as of this date despite repeated calls over the mass media, it is safe to assume that they are not interested at all to participate in this forthcoming electoral process. October 31, 2009 deadline is still far off yet given the penchant to procrastinate, everybody marches off to Comelec office on the last day. Comelec personnel are also human. Needless to say voters must be aware of their rights and responsibilities under the law otherwise they can be disenfranchised for good. /MP
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