|
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Carvajal: Calling former chief justice Davide
By Orlando P. Carvajal
The good news is that administration politicians seem to have resigned to the fact that they can no longer rush Charter change before the elections of 2007. In recent days, they have noticeably shifted their focus from political issues to preparations for the coming elections.
But the bad news is that opposition politicians are not pushing for reforms in the Comelec. It continues to puzzle me that they would insist on impeaching President Arroyo on allegations of cheating and yet not bother at all to institute impeachment proceedings against the Comelec without whom the alleged cheating could not have happened.
And the worst news of all is my conviction that neither opposition nor administration politicians want any reforms in the Comelec because they have their respective contacts or assets in the present Comelec who would assure that they get elected regardless of how many would vote for them.
Why is the opposition, for instance, not insisting on impeaching the Comelec commissioners after creating so much fuss about PGMA’s alleged cheating through former commissioner Virgilio Garcillano? It’s almost like they are reluctant to do this because then they cannot have their revenge. They want the present Comelec to stay because they intend to win the cheating game next time around.
At this point in time, we cannot trust the present Comelec to conduct an honest election. The only chance for our trust in the Comelec to be restored is if the full report of former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. is made public and his main recommendations for Comelec reforms implemented.
We cannot trust our politicians not to cheat. But we can have a restructured Comelec that could possibly keep our politicians honest. With the present Comelec, we see politicians arrogantly doing only what they like with utter disregard for the people’s will and yet very confident of re-election. On the other hand, we also hear of well-intentioned politicians (a contradiction in terms?) who do not dare run for office knowing that they will win in the voting but lose in the counting.
This country has weathered the political storm that started with allegations of cheating in the last elections. I am afraid this time we are really riding for a fall if the elections of 2007 are conducted with the present electoral system unchanged, with the present Comelec deciding on the fortune of politicians and condemning Filipinos to a government run like hell by cheats and crooks.
Can we call on former Chief Justice Davide not to allow his good name to be used by the administration? Can we call on him to reveal his full report and ask the administration to implement his recommendations? Or has his recent appointment effectively silenced him too? I should hope not.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
