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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Postpone the Elections
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on March 11, 2007 For the Standard Today, March 13 issue What advice can you give voters and candidates? That question was posed to me by email by Columnist Mons Romulo-Tantoco, and my answer below appeared in the March 4 issue of The Philippine Star: �Be open to the possibility of postponing the elections to (at least) November 2007 for the following reasons: �One. It creates the time necessary for Comelec to proceed with the perpetually-postponed automation of elections. Automated elections � with built-in paper trails for verification in case of disputes � reduces the avenues for cheating. That is why the trapos and their handlers have done everything to prevent it from happening. �Two. It would also provide time for a constitutional convention to amend the Constitution, and to allow changes in the rules of political engagement. �In particular, we (would be able to) do away with political dynasties, as called for in the 1987 Constitution; �institute qualifying exams for all elective candidates, to discourage the stupid and the ignorant from running for public office, no matter how popular they may be with the squealing masa; �permanently bar convicted criminals from seeking public office; �(mandate) that senators be elected on a regional, not national, basis, so that all regions are represented all the time in the Senate. (In the current senatorial line-ups, no Muslim is likely to win enough national votes to earn a seat in the Senate); �ban all political ads on radio, TV, print and billboards. Instead, government-owned Channel 9 and Channel 13, and their radio and TV networks, should be turned over to a constitutional body during the electoral campaign period, to give all parties and all candidates free and equal air time. �Without these changes, the 2007 electoral exercises will just be a repeat of previous elections and will lead to further deterioration of our political life, with even more cheating, lying and stealing, and the further entrenchment of idiot candidates and idiot voters in our political culture.� One week later - by coincidence, like the massive sell-off in the stock market one week after my warning about too much hot (speculative) money in our economy � two events occurred which make postponement of the May 2007 elections not just a suggestion, but an actual necessity, which would allow for a new beginning in our electoral process. In the post-midnight hours of March 11, the Comelec building in Intramuros mysteriously burned down, reducing to ashes the commission�s voluminous documents, including records of the 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004 elections. Supposedly, the central voters lists had been stored in an annex building and were not destroyed by the fire. (This is little comfort to me and my family. In the 2004 elections, my entire family was not able to vote because our names did not appear in the precincts where we had voted in previous elections. A check with the Comelec�s central voters list showed that our names were also not in that list, even though we had been photographed and finger-printed earlier at the barangay hall for our voter�s IDs, which we also never received. (According to Comelec itself, 900,000 voters were similarly and inexplicably dropped from their lists. According to NAMFREL, in its Terminal Report on the 2004 elections, two million voters had been disenfranchised. According to the Catholic Church�s Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV, the number of disenfranchised voters was closer to four million. I smelled a rat from start to finish.) The other event was the revelation in the March 12 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that three unidentified and unauthorized men, wearing the correct uniforms and ID�s, were caught last week in the premises of the National Printing Office (NPO) � which prints the ballots for elections - copying the serial numbers of ballots and the municipalities and cities to which these ballots are being assigned. It is clear as daylight that these men were engaged in pre-election cheating by gathering the data needed for the unauthorized printing of another set of �official� ballots, which will then be substituted post-election for the real official ballots in the ballot boxes, but with the names of favored candidates written in in advance by the usual battalions of fakers and forgers. Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos claims he does not see how the copying of the ballots� serial numbers could lead to electoral fraud. If he is that na�ve, then he should not be occupying this position, which requires the ability to second-guess the cheats and to constantly build firewalls against them. The Comelec and the NPO may try to assure the electorate that only a small part of the ballots had been compromised, but for many, if not most, of a cynical public, the entire exercise has been corrupted even before it can begin. Especially since the present head of NPO and her predecessor are facing graft charges in connection with an alleged rigged NPO award of a printing job worth P91 million in April 2006. (Inquirer, March 12.) My sense is that the burning of the Comelec building and the hanky-panky in the premises of the NPO are related in ways that are not yet clear at present. And it shows to me that the Evil Genius who masterminded the cheating in the 1992 and 2004 presidential elections is hard at work in 2007 as well. To proceed, therefore, with the 2007 elections as if nothing significant has occurred to soil its integrity before it can begin, is to reward the Evil Genius for his amoral cunning, and to burden the electorate of this country with three more years of cheating, lying and stealing. But will not postponing the elections leave the country without a legislature for several months, until the postponed elections are held? True. And, truth to tell, many Filipinos, thoroughly disgusted with the politics of this country, will not miss the missing congressmen/women and senators. But to address this lawyerly concern, a special session of Congress can be called, with the consent of all or most sectors, extending the terms of office of all affected incumbent officials, including governors and mayors and other local officials, by x-months, until the postponed elections are held. Some initial confusion, perhaps. But this would be a small price to pay to have automated and Pinoy-proof elections, qualifying exams for all candidates to weed out the stupid and the ignorant, automatic disqualification of convicted criminals and other moral misfits, regional election of senators, and the leveling of the playing field in campaign expenses. I agree with the opinion of former Comelec chair Christian Monsod, publicly expressed several months ago, that before we ever hold another election, the entire electoral process and apparatus, including Comelec, must be thoroughly revamped. This is the golden opportunity to do so. If we do not take advantage of it, then we should not complain if we are burdened with more of the same moral excrement embedded in our political culture. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Postpone the Elections� More Reactions to �As I Was Saying� In reaction to your op-ed piece headed "Postpone the elections", I wonder about the consequences of doing that. Article VI, Sections 4 and 7 of the constitution specify that the terms of office of Senators and Representatives are respectively six and three years, commencing at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election. I see no provision in the Constitution allowing extension of the terms of office for sitting legislators. Article VI, Section 8 specifies the election date as the second Monday of May, and does allow this date to be changed by ordinary laws. However, changing this to a later date would not effect the ending date of the terms of incumbent legislators. Section 9 provides that legislative vacancies shall be filled by calling a special election. It appears to me that postponement of the elections would leave the country without sitting legislators after 30 June (perhaps some senators would remain, if senatorial elections are staggered). Bill Mitchell, (by email), Boracay Island , March 14, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, I agree with you 100% to postpone the incoming election to November 2007. Six months is good enough to implement all those suggestions you mentioned. And all those suggestions are down to earth good for our country. Giving exams to all the candidates is a fantastic idea. It's like taking the board exam before you become a professional engineer, doctor or what not. Holding public office should be given to a qualified person because it is a profession. One thing that pisses me off is that convicted criminals, coup plotters, people whose ambition is to topple our government are allowed to run for government office. There's no logic in it. I don't understand what kind of government laws we have. I salute and respect people like you, Tony, who put time and efforts to right the system of government that we have. Thank you and best regards, Agustin Bacalso, (by email), March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww A word to the wise...Sapientia.. Victor S. Barrios, (by email), San Francisco , CA , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, I am amazed and thoroughly in awe at what you are doing, exposing all the election irregularities in the Philippines , a practice so entrenched in our culture such that many of the Filipinos gave up and left the country. Political dynasty? I saw that in our town happen over and over again. We are one of the families who left the Philippines after we heard through someone very reliable in the government that martial law was going to be declared. We left just in time because martial law was declared five months after we left. We did leave but we were hoping to return after things got better. That was 35 years ago. Things never did get better. The poor people are still poor, the economy has not improved. People do not have good jobs. Teachers and nurses and other professionals are not paid well. Can you blame the doctors who are taking up Nursing just so they could leave the Philippines to improve their living conditions? I know a few doctors who were considered "affluent" do just that. This is very embarrassing. I do not want to talk about it to my friends in the U.S. , because of the shame I feel when we talk about it. I do not think they will even understand it. We need national discipline for everybody. Most of our bad habits are so entrenched in our culture, people don't even think it is wrong and talk openly about it. A good example is vote-buying. Most of the masa do sell their votes because the simple rationale is they do not care anymore. Whoever wins the election does not make changes to make their lives any better anyway. Cheating in the elections is no longer considered strange. It is an all too common occurrence, people no longer raise their eyebrows when it happens. And it happens all the time. I like the last paragraph about revamping the electoral process including Comelec. How about educating the people? This is easier said than done, I know. It will probably take a long time to accomplish what is considered "ideal", but the Philippines has to start somewhere. I am not a politician and I do not dare say I have the solution to correct all these, but my heart bleeds for all of us Filipinos. Because this will be a very long tedious process and I am not even sure I will see these changes in my lifetime. I sound pessimistic, and that is because I have waited long enough to see our government get better. I would like to thank you for all the astute and very analytical editorials. I hope it will serve to wake up some of our people in the high places to make these changes we so badly need and is long overdue. More power to you for your efforts!!! Erlinda Rojas, (by email), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Item by item comparison to your advice in regard to that question > what advice would you give voters and candidates. Postponement of Election - this one I agree totally, until not only implementation of the long planned automation, but the Total reform of Electoral Process from the recording and accounting of contribution of campaign funds and enforcement of its limits and the same with campaign expense. This is where the transparent and clean election starts and followed by a corresponding clean and proper governance. I remember when campaign were allowed from Businesses and Labour Unions, asides from individual citizens and government (yes, our government is the substantial source of campaign funds, by reimbursing the individual candidates, party and party associations of their last election expense, depending on how they meet the guidelines for NOT BEING IDIOTS OR NUISANCE Candidates to a certain percentage up to 50 %. But now the business contribution was scrapped and the unions also on the chopping block because it is more of "influence peddling" than participatory in the democratic process. And no single individual can contribute more than the maximum, which is indexed to inflation in an annual basis and tax deductible up to 70% to a certain amount of contribution.. Start with this and it will help a lot... We don�t discriminate on who can run for elected office, but the voters are "discriminating" in their taste. Convicted criminals and Idiots are welcome to run, but they need a hefty "nuisance deposit" which the government will forfeit if they don�t go out and vote for themselves, so they rather keep the money than being a Double Idiots and Stupid Criminals. (Nuisance Candidates are those who run and don�t bother to campaign or those who knew that nobody going to vote for them, not even their own mothers, although the guidelines limits of minimum votes required is quite generous). Campaign ads are always allowed in all outlets, it�s the fastest and effective way to communicate to the voters, the Party�s or candidates programs for the duration of the mandate and the Party platform for the voters to compare for their own. Signs and Banner can only be posted on private property with owner�s permission and clean up be done in reasonable time (In our case the max of 3 days after election). And lastly the beauty of Full Automation and the Permanent Voters List. On these two issues alone it is worth to postpone the election until even one can be fully accomplished. We have been there a long, long time ago and we at maximum of 3 hours after the Polls are officially closed, can celebrate for our party victory or candidate or go to be bed and plan for the next campaign and on the voters list, you registered once, and for new citizen just a check on the appropriate box of a citizenship application form and that�s it. And registration is anytime of the year and you can move from house to house, town to town or province to province and you are always registered to vote in your new Riding (district). The millions of pesos wasted on corruption and lack of accountability of election campaign spending would be enough or more for funding of upgrading the Voters List and implementing the long and "never take off the ground" automation of the whole election voting and counting. Thanks for the opportunity and regards, Victor Sanoy, (by email), Toronto , Ontario , Canada , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Carefully considering the unique Philippine political milieu, I would seriously suggest that elections be postponed indefinitely--or until such time when voters are able to use their right to vote intelligently. In a nation of idiots, however, that day may be far, far into the future. I see no light at the end of this very long tunnel. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers , NY , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Given that the entire system (election processes included) is effectively corrupted by those with large degrees of power, any reforms in almost any part of our political system will be laden with suspicion and compromise. Even at its most noble and well intentioned (the writing of the �86 constitution) the renovation of the governing laws of the land is riddled with �incompetence or errors� stemming from our seeming inability to establish general rules of engagements. We instead are tainted by personal or collective negative experiences and our inability to trust in our fellow Pinoy so much so that we are forced to heap exception upon exception to cover each and every iteration of a possible situation creating a forever enduring entanglement. Some calls to postpone elections till November (or whenever depending on who you ask) is just another example of this exception making. The logic of following a process is that the law, and the institutions designed to apply them, are dynamic creatures and supposedly by its very essence, self correcting. In the Philippine context however, I believe this to be untrue. As proof (in my mind at least) anti-dynasty laws have never been enacted into law (have they even been discussed?) if only because those that hold the power to enact these noble concepts want to hold on to power and want power absolutely. 20+ years (and counting) is a long time to wait for self correction to occur. The system is warped and we ourselves, the social class with the ability to effect change, tayo na may kaya, are kept in enough physical comfort and a dreamy intellectual context that we become convinced that we can work bloodlessly within a flawed system. Perhaps this is but right, that we always struggle for a peaceful and humane solution to otherwise volatile problems. But I always wonder if, when the time is right or necessary, can we back up our intellectual and moral conviction with the physical force and action that may become necessary. I truly hope so. One of the biggest insults a Pinoy can heap on another Pinoy is �hanggang salita ka lang pala�. One of my favorite quotes (erroneously quoted in movies for dramatic effect) is the endorsement of revolution by Thomas Jefferson. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." True patriots ( not the ones that hold hostage innocent civilians in hotels then cry mommy when their reinforcements don�t arrive) may mourn the blood they shed but it is never with regret. It is the tyrants that fear blood because they have invested least in the government and country, the source of wealth and power, that they jealously and selfishly guard. Now before I find myself on the hit list of overzealous government idiots, let me qualify that, personally, a bloody revolution will not be needed (if it is needed at all) for another ten to fifteen years. This is because I believe in the frailty of the human flesh against the ravages of time. Given that many of the corruptors of democracy are in their sunset years, time will surely cut them down in my lifetime�yahoo!!!) despite their bodyguards and dialysis machines et al. If I had to choose though, my weapon of choice for the eradication of the corrupt senior pol is lechon kawali. I figure one kilo a day will be enough to hasten the process by at least half a decade. After this writing, I advise all of you to think twice before sending anyone any pork product lest you be accused of political assassination. Owners of piggeries, beware, your herd will be classified as weapons of mass destruction. I need a beer. Jaime Garchitorena, (by email), March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I am one of your avid readers of all your column and I have just one very much concern this time if anything that we can do to stop Manny Pacquiao to run in office. He is my idol and all of the youth as a model of a disciplined and determined individual who has excelled his in-born talent (even when I was in States- I have seen your FIL-AM kids who idolize him) being a model to the masa who came from scratch to his status now. He said he wants to help the people, but he can help more if he will just remain in his field of expertise as a boxer. He can put up a foundation for all boxers or anything to help the young and old in that sport.... Please, can we have a hand together and urge him to stop from going to politics and join the dirty and greedy politicians who are using HIM....God bless..... Best regards, Romeo Lacasandile, (by email), Abu-Dhabi, UAE, March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, How do we unmask this Evil Genius ? He has been making his play in past elections already, thereby making a mockery of our electoral system, and laughing all the way to the bank, plus perks and privileges. Our election results will always be the same, as long as we tolerate this Evil Genius. It's high time we call an open season on this genius. Sincerely, Auggie Surtida, (by email), Tigbauan, Iloilo , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir, Amen to the postponement of the May 14 elections for the following sagacious raison d'�tre: -Abort any pre-election cheatings planned by the vulture candidates. -Give Manny Pacquiao ample time to weigh in his priorities (boxing over politics, commercial endorsement over politics, billiards and cockfigthing over politics or no politics at all). -Cesar Montano and Richard Gomez will have enough time to contemplate why they are lagging behind in surveys Their popularity were dumped by wise voters and, we hope, they will eventually withdraw their senatorial bids.. Thanks and best regards Allan G. Buyayo, (by email), March 15, 2007 Ju-Young Electronics (Phils.), Inc wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What can the people do so the elections are postponed?! Let's do it!! Lolita Delgado Fansler, (by email), March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You are very, very right with your opinion and suggestions! The system has defects and naturally it will produce a product that will be endlessly defective. But we have to look at the nature of Politics. Like a commercial product , i.e. computer, naughty gays even Bill Gates will not give the best, but little by little extracting your hard earned peso in a much longer time. Sometimes or many times when manufacturers wants more money, he will flood the market with products you can afford, but all in come out and programmed in a scientific way. Now going to politics, the same thing is what those politicians are doing... Congress will not give you all you want, but piece, by piece, by piece. At least Charter Change has been allowed, like the anti terrorism bill, it could be amended maybe just after the day it was been enacted. Provided these politicians are foolish enough not to specified clause for specified period of amending the same. You are right, excatly right. we are at the sme track of thinking now. In the future, lets work together for a better constitution that will serve a very formidable machine that will outrace other Asian countries in the region. In that way things could be done the right way, the right place, the right time. Effective and Efficient! Thank you! Rodolfo Cada, (by email), March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww All your recommendations/suggestions are well presented, intelligent, reasonable, and make a lot of sense, a radical procedure necessary as a step towards removal of cancerous lesions in our electoral process. May God bless you always, Mr. Abaya. Mabuhay po kayo. Please continue this God-given mission. Dr. Josephine Banaag, (by email), March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The adviced of Kuya Tony about the postponement of the national & local polls on November 2007 is ideal. However, it is not that simple. Postponement of the said date should undergoes amendment of the Constitution. The May 14 polls are embodied on the said fundamental law of the land that even says "second monday of May." The same also with calling a constitutional convention, law against political dynasty, qualifying examinations for candidate (since one of the idiotic requirements is a candidate , say, for senator should knows how to read & right. While a candidate for a lowly rank policeman needs to have a four - year college diploma, and hurdled a government examination), regional election of senators, and banning of political ads. The aforecited are not only for amendment, they are for the revision of the constitution. and the sine qua non requirement is either calling first for a Constituent Assembly (where President Gloria Engkantada's mad dogs led by my citymate here in Dagupan Speaker Joe de Bola bungled for several times), People's Initiative, and Constitutional Convention. All of them need an ardous procedure that the ideal November 2007 target is next to impossible. Mortz Ortigoza, (by email), Dagupan City , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Just want to do my share in spreading your brilliant patriotic idea. Regards, Javier Ailes, (by email), Kazakhstan , March 15, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reaction to �As I Was Saying� Dear Mr. Abaya, In your reply in one of the comment, you have said. "What�s wrong with our country is that even those who think they are educated do not use critical thinking and accept without question the pronouncements from above, a habit acquired from their religious brainwashing." I so much agree on this statement. I firmly believe if the government will address the problem of increasing population, or high population growth rate, some of the problems of these country can be solved. Our growing population is overstretching our natural and human capacities to the limit - settlements, food requirement, environmental concerns, education, health and other social service facilities, infrastructures, etc. More so that our government do not have financial resources to provide the needs of the general populace through dole outs. We can not really boast any figure of improvement may it be on peso value, GDP growth, exports, etc. as long as most Filipinos survived on a meager income as more people are unemployed. Having a sensible population management program with adequate budget appropriation and implementing it religiously not just on paper as well as working for full-scale agricultural development and industrialization - to spread economic benefits in the countryside can greatly solved our present predicament. I know there are still lot of things that need to be addressed - corruption, peace and order, etc., but starting on a few vital concerns will hopefully address some of the problems we are facing considering its total ramifications as you often cited in your writings. Yes, what we really need is critical thinking as well as a leadership that can act decisively on certain vital solutions we badly need. Rodrigo R. Matabaran, (by email), March 29, 2007 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |