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Friday, July 07, 2006
Editorials: Comelec’s credibility
There is, at this point, a great possibility that the constitutionally mandated elections in 2007 will push through after all.
Most of our people who have grown accustomed to this periodic occurrence in our republic expect the elections to be held next year even if the seriously bruited about Charter change (Cha-cha) will push through or not.
However, there are indications that Cha-cha will push through despite the Senate’s opposition.
If so, the pro and con struggle over the issue would, by force of circumstance, shift to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Truthful evaluation
Those who are for constitutional change and those opposed to it will have to turn to the Comelec for an efficient and truthful evaluation of the results of the citizen’s mandate over the issue as expressed in the ballots.
It would be an expression of faith in the Constitutional body.
It is worthwhile to note that not since the birth of this nation as an independent republic some 60 years ago has Comelec’s credibility been publicly and harshly questioned, as it was in the last elections.
The sanctity of the ballot is a highly valued feature of our democratic way of life.
While the ballot has been the object of fraud and terrorism, never has its sanctity been supposedly grossly violated as it was in that elections, with President Arroyo allegedly involved in it.
Thus, the question over the Comelec’s credibility emerges.
Level of trust
After the alleged involvement of the Comelec in the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of Arroyo’s ascent to the presidency in the 2004 polls, a matter that has remained unresolved, what could be its level of credibility in the public mind at this moment?
This is a matter the Comelec may have to look into itself for answers.
The matter is of great import to a nation that, despite a long, tedious history of election turbulence, has nevertheless sustained an image depicting a smooth transfer of power from one successfully elected leader to another.
Under this cloud of doubt over its integrity and credibility, can the Comelec effectively perform its mandated task under the Constitution, whose “existence” in itself might be part, too, of the issue the Filipinos will have to resolve as well in next year’s elections?
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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