Dire scenarios

It’s exactly one week before E-Day. This is the best time for voters to start their thorough and serious deliberations about the qualifications of the candidates they will elect on May 10, 2010 from president down to the city or municipal councilors. For the candidates on the other hand, this will be the homestretch and like any race they are expected to give their all as they sprint to the finish line ahead of the pack.

It is common knowledge however that here in the Philippines, the race becomes more heated, risky and bloody at the homestretch. This is the phase where the candidates literally knock out or bludgeon each other. Candidates who are running ahead of the pack usually encounter greater risk not only in the assassination of their character but even of their own lives. So far, the reported election related killings and other forms of violence have already surpassed the previous record with more killings and violence expected. Most alarming of these incidents are the latest killing in Bangued, Abra and the reported bombing attempt on Mangudadatu who is challenging the Ampatuans’ rule in the Maguindanao. As everybody knows these places are perennial election hot spots yet the government looks helpless in stopping violence in these areas. In fact, the Ampatuans are now facing multiple charges of murdering 57 people infamously dubbed as the Maguindanao massacre, the worst election related violence in history.

And while this election related violence are alarmingly on the rise our National Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales seems to be more interested and concerned about the alleged “bribe offers to COMELEC officials and to AFP and PNP officers in exchange for assistance to two presidential candidates”. Something is really fishy when our Defense Secretary who is mainly in charge of the maintenance of peace and order in our country is more interested and even dips his hand in our electoral process to the extent of airing such vague and unverified report that puts the COMELEC and the military under his supervision and control, in a bad light. His alleged intention which is “to preempt cheating” sounds so hollow. For if it is so he could have quietly investigated and verified the report before prematurely airing it. Raising suspicions on the COMELEC and the military, which are the principal government agencies charged with ensuring that elections will be held and that it will be held honestly, orderly and peacefully, simply looks more like a part of the failure of election scenario which Gonzales himself have been spreading. Up to now Gonzales still believes he can fool all of the people all of the time.

While we should be prepared for the worst, we should still hope for the best—that the election on May 10, 2010 will not be a failure. Actually the strict, technical meaning of failure of elections is that no elections are held at all nationwide or in some areas. It may be due to the occurrence of typhoons, storms and other natural disasters; or because of war, terrorism, use of force and violence which are man-made. In such cases, the election is merely deferred and scheduled for another date.

But the broader and more harmful connotation of failure of election is that even if it is held, the true voice of the people has not been clearly and correctly heard and determined. This may be due to the usual, fraud, cheating and other election malpractices that characterized our past elections or because the voters themselves have been duped or misled in their choices. The latter appears more likely the reason for the “failure” of election this time around. And this is primarily because candidates employ so many dirty tactics that mislead, confuse and deceive the electorate like mudslinging, the use of black propaganda, untruthful advertisements, and the blatant violation of election rules to boost the candidates’ name recall and popularity rather than their platforms and qualifications.

Hence voters must be properly guided. It is not enough that they should vote according to their conscience. Voters’ conscience must be correctly formed and well informed. This means that they should look beyond the candidates’ popularity and concentrate more on their character and qualifications for the positions, their programs, principles and policies.

As to qualifications, the minimum set by the Constitution specifically for the Presidency are that he must be a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on election day and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election. Obviously these qualifications are more applicable as guides to the aspirants in determining whether they could run for the presidency. They are definitely not enough to guide voters in making the wise and correct choices. The voters should also look into the experience and record of service of the candidates and find out his capability to lead and to run the affairs of government especially that of this country which are so complicated and so messy at this stage.

As to character, the Constitution (Article XI Section 1) also set some qualifications which may help. It says that “public officers must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives”. If these traits are present in the candidates to be chosen, the choice is definitely wise and appropriate enough. Unfortunately based on the past elections they are never considered at all. It’s about time therefore that we use them in making our decisions this coming May 10, 2010. The basic question every voter should answer in connection with the candidates’ character is: can he be trusted to implement the necessary changes in government we have been longing for all these years?

The programs and policies of candidates on the other hand can be determined by their respective stand on the burning issues confronting us and our government. In this connection, the Church has already identified some of these issues like the anti life measures, the lack of transparency in government, graft and corruption, environment etc. This is certainly a big help. But certainly, it is quite flawed for the bishops to back candidates merely because they agree with their stand on these issues especially after merely asking the candidates whether they agree or disagree with them. Candidates who want to get their support will certainly agree with them. Besides, the choice must not be based only on one or more of these issues. The choice must consider everything including the qualifications and capabilities of the candidates.

The tasks ahead for the voters and the government agencies which ensure the sanctity of the ballots, as well as the possible dire scenarios, really look daunting. But with lots of prayers everything will turn out well.