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Thursday, January 15, 2004
Espinoza: SC ruling victory for poll cheaters
By Elias L. Espinoza
RULING. The ruling of the Supreme Court that invalidated the P1- billion contract for the supply of the software and equipment for the automated election system on May 10 was a victory for the election cheaters.
The Supreme Court has spoken. So what else can the Commission on Elections (Comelec) do? Nothing, except to go back to manual counting of votes where the election results can be rigged.
Instead of progressing, we are going back to antiquity. As to why only now that the action was filed against the supposed winning bidder, leaves so much to be desired.
The timing of the filing of the petition is so close not to be suspected as a scheme devised by those who will be affected by the automated election system. The May 10 polls could have been the opportune time to test the acceptability of the automated system.
The automated system is not only convenient for the voters, especially those who have poor handwriting skills, but for the candidates themselves since they will not spend so much for the watchers.
Under the old system of election counting and canvass, only those who have the machinery and resources are expected to win. Those who do not have the party, better luck next time.
ISSUES. With the approaching election campaign, I feel that the electorate should be guided on the issues for or against the candidates. Priority in my list is bad roads and poor street lighting.
Almost all local government units whose incumbent officials are seeking reelection should be asked to explain on the present inferior state of our roads and poor street lighting.
Perhaps Cebu City will not bother to do it. Look what they did last year. While the service vehicles of these supposed public servants are still in top shape, they purchased brand new vehicles that cost not less than P1 million per vehicle.
But hey, did they ever check if the City roads will be good for their new vehicles? I don’t think so. A friend once joked that the new vehicles are equipped with super shock absorbers that the city officials on board will not feel the discomfort when it hits the potholes around the city.
A city official will probably tell me “inggit ka lang” since I can’t afford to buy a brand new vehicle. True, but did these supposed public servants forget that the money they paid for their new vehicles were taxpayers’ money?
If one drives in the evening, don’t be surprised if the drivers of the motor vehicles you meet on the road turn on their fog lamps or lights on high beam that could glare your sight. Some drivers do this to compensate their night vision on unlighted and poorly lighted streets.
Most of the lampposts in the city streets have busted lights. It appears, however, that our city officials have not been traveling in the night that they haven’t experienced how difficult it is to drive on a dark street.
POLITICS. After Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas decided to go back to Congress, former mayor Socrates Fernandez is back in action. Eddiegul is returning to Congress after his brother, Dodong, refused to seek reelection for some personal reasons.
This time, however, Fernandez will be facing two formidable lady opponents in the person of former mayor Dehlia Tiu and Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez. Gullas leaves a mark at Talisay’s City Hall as its first city mayor.
After talks with the camps of Eddiegul and Abarquez failed, the lady vice mayor decided to run for city mayor. What amazed me, though, with the differences between Gullas and Abarquez is the fact (if my memory serves me right) that Lani’s father was a close partymate of Gullas.
The late Judge Abarquez was probably one of the long serving town mayors of Talisay in his time. He left politics and joined the judiciary, where he retired and later died of heart attack while attending a hearing on election protest.
The three-cornered fight in Talisay City will probably place Fernandez in a difficult position since he will be facing two lady opponents. Be that as it may, the City voters will have, at least, three choices for mayor.
ANNUAL. On Saturday, Jan. 17, the members of the Visayanian Staffers Alumni Association (VSAS) will again have their reunion at the Ecotech center during lunchtime. This is a day before the City celebrates Sinulog.
The VSAS members were once writers or staff members of “The Visayanian,” the official publication of the University of the Visayas. To rekindle ties, they meet once a year, a day before the Sinulog mardi gras, since most of the members return to Cebu City for the festivity.
Calling on the members to please attend and let’s once again renew our bonds. One of the members who passed away recently was retired Judge Peary Aleaonar. Our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.
(January 15, 2004 issue)
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