EDITORIAL - March 4 - 10 Issue

Is the COMELEC Capable to Enforce
Election Laws?

On May 14, 2007 the Filipinos will select the most qualified persons for the Legislative Department of the government. These are the senators and congressmen. The Filipinos will also select their governor, vice governor and members of the sangguniang panlalawigan of a province, city mayor, vice mayor and sangguniang panglunsod of a city and municipal mayor, vice mayor and members of the sangguniang bayan of a municipality.
To vote right is one of the sacred duties of a Filipino citizen to his country. And to vote right must be devoid of any external interference that may influence the result of the election. Election is the process by which the best person or persons is/are elected to do the jobs either in legislation or in the management of state affairs. But since 1946 after regaining Philippine independence, the Philippines has been holding elections at all levels, but until today, still elections were marred with irregularities. The most recent of which was in 2004 where President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is alleged to have cheated the election and the legitimacy of her presidency has been questioned.
The Commission on Election (COMELEC) is the constitutional body which is mandated to manage the electoral processes so that election will be honest, orderly and peaceful election. However, the integrity of the COMELEC officials are being doubted if not questioned. The COMELEC has not fully enforced the election laws, rules and regulations.
Propaganda materials are found everywhere such as nailed by the trunk of trees, tied at electric posts and pasted by the walls and bridges railings. The COMELEC designated poster areas are not followed. The gun ban is rampantly violated from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. The limitation as to radio television propaganda is set aside. The P3 to P5 expenses per voter is grossly disobeyed. The giving of gifts is prohibited like T-shirts, ballpens, bags, caps or cash. Mr. Chavit Singson distributed cash in Cagayan de Oro City during his sorties there. Mr. Singson apologizes, but is it enough to say "I’m sorry" after violating the law?
And to think that those candidates who are violating the laws are those people who crafted and approved those laws is revolting. At the time this editorial is being written, the Manuel Villar posters are nailed by the tree trunks and tied on electric posts along the roads in Aklan. It is quite difficult to approve a law but it seems very easy for legislators to violate what they approved themselves.
"BARANGAY SENATE"
With the present candidates for the senate from whom 12 of them will be elected in the May 14 election, it will enhance the transformation of the upper legislative chamber as Barangay Senate. The 2007–2010 senate maybe composed of father and son, brother and sisters aunt and nephew, godfather and godson. The Senate of the Philippines will become a small barangay populated by 24 senators who are close relations. Of course their nearest of kin and other persons who helped in their elections will join them as secretary, technical staff, legal council, clerks, janitors, managers, drivers and others.
Likewise, the House of Representatives will become a "Barangay Representatives" populated by congressmen and women who are also closely related with each other. This barangay will even become a big city because of bigger population and billions of money at their disposal. They have several trillion pesos to budget every year to finance the projects of the government such as agricultural modernization program which some of the money was spent for fertilizer and other scams.
This piece of work is done to remind our Filipino voters to vote right." Study carefully each candidate now. Continue studying their personalities and performance. After a decision is made, write their names with the corresponding positions they are aspiring for and write it on a piece of paper. This list will come handy on election day. Keep it safe, bring the list in the polling place where it will serve as your guide in writing the candidates’ names to corresponding positions. /MP