Election fever shapes up

This week next year’s election team-ups are being very closely monitored by voters. I don’t blame them. Despite being exposed to election news at every turn, we still want to know more. After all, the decisions we make next year could very well change the course of our country’s history. I would be more baffled if no one cared. So, of course, it matters greatly who our options are in 2016 and despite the outpouring of news, we’ll continue to listen and ask for more.

And we have to bear in mind that it’s about more than just who is running for President and Vice President but also who the candidates are for Senate, Congress, local officials and more. After all, all of these elected officials are expected to work together for the betterment of the Philippines. We should care deeply about whom we give the responsibility and honor or filling every position.

We all know it’s going to get messy. That’s just par for the course when it comes to elections, however I can’t help but feel that this is even truer here in the Philippines. Just last Monday, it was reported that over 22 would-be candidates filed to run for President. I have to say I don’t understand the logic behind this. I believe that everyone has the right to want to help the country and do what they feel would benefit the Philippines, but it’s ludicrous seeing all these would-be presidential hopefuls filing their CoCs. I don’t belittle their intentions, and by all means, they may be more qualified and passionate than the slate of candidate choices we currently have, but I believe that filing to run should be a very serious decision with a lot of thought and a lot of experience behind it. With all of these presidential candidates coming out of the woodwork, it almost seems like a joke.

That coupled with all the Vice Presidential hopefuls who are filing to run for the VP position with no running mate. I have to ask, do they seriously think they have a shot to win? It is doubly difficult, even for a candidate with ample experience because as a Vice President hopeful they are not really in a position to make solid promises to the voting public. How can they when they have no Presidential candidate to confirm their platform. As we know the VP position is limiting when it comes to instituting change and programs, and this makes it that much harder for VP candidates to make promises that they can truly keep.

I really believe that people who are filing their CoC and making their intentions to run known need to seriously consider their position and what they can truly offer the country, coupled with their chances to win. A position for the sake of a position is not good enough. I feel candidates must couple their desire to serve with the intelligence and experience of public office, management, business acumen, and more. This will make them a whole leader who can make real change while in office and not just another position filler who accomplishes next to nothing during his or her term.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has advised the public and the candidates to not turn this upcoming election into a circus and that’s a wise decision that should be taken seriously. I hope we can keep it to facts and leave the smoke and mirrors behind. After all, none of that really matters. At the same time, I also fully support that the candidates who are in a position to influence the public, should either resign or take a leave of absence while they are running. This is especially true for those who are members of the media as they have a distinct advantage of being able to use their media outlets as vehicles for sharing their opinions on certain issues with the public.

Additionally, if a candidate is running for office, it amazes me that they are able to do so while still holding another position. It just seems strange that if they run and lose they are able to return to the role they previously had. I personally believe that if a candidate wants to run he or she should finish his or her existing term before putting their name in the ring once again. But then again they say that candidates are forced to do this because their terms end in the middle of election periods. I believe there should be a better way to address this.

In other election news, I am glad that election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has supported the immediate confirmation of COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista to help endorse a smooth and clean election in 2016. This, plus the approval of Smartmatic of the ballots are both steps in the right direction to ensuring there is ample time to get everything in order before the population troop to the polls. We need to be on the ball this time and everything has to be above board and transparent.

I think we are heading in the right direction. Electronic voting is the way to go to avoid cheating allegations (which, we’ll probably still get, let’s face it). I don’t think we can count votes one at a time via blackboard like we used to. We have to move with the times or we’ll get left behind. Besides, with the right amount of lead-time to educate registered voters, they should be able to head to the polls properly informed and ready.

And speaking of being better informed and educated, I am also 100 percent behind Senator Richard Gordon’s proposal to hold a series of presidential debates among the candidates. I think this is a very important vehicle to hear what the candidates have to say and get to know more about them in a venue where they are under a little more pressure and aren’t so comfortable just spouting promise after promise. A debate will give other candidates the freedom to answer back and question statements made in real time and will let voters see how certain candidates react to pressure and rise above it.

I don’t think there is any reason this should not happen. With so much information to sift through it’s important COMELEC helps voters get the proper information so they can make educated choices. I believe that carefully monitored and sanctioned debates, such as those Sen. Gordon is proposing, will help give Filipinos a better understanding and appreciation of a candidate’s qualifications, track record, and stance on various pressing local and international issues.