Editorial: Must detainees vote in the May 10 elections?

WITH only a few more days to go before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo steps down as the country’s chief executive, critics of her administration have been concocting all sorts of worst case scenario and blaming GMA for what they perceive will be another scheme intended to ensure that she will still be wielding power even after she steps down.

Aside from the power crisis that may lead to brownouts on election day, anti-government politicians are now trying to say that the president seems to be into some sinister move with her go signal for the Commission on Election to allow more than 23,000 inmates to vote in the May 10 automated polls.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

Many of the government’s critics ask for an explanation as to why this is being done while others are left wondering whether this move negates the commonly held notion that one of the consequences of crime is the loss of civil liberties including the right to vote.

Of course COMELEC says inmates must be qualified in order to vote, that is only those whose cases are still being heard by the court, those who are serving a sentence of less than a year, and those who have been convicted but are currently on appeal will be able to cast their vote.

But with still a lot of issues being debated on the reliability of our first-ever automated election, the question being asked is whether now may be the perfect time to allow 23,000 convicted plunderers, rapists, murderers, kidnappers, and the like to help decide who should run this country.