After the entire opposition slate of the Lakas ng Bayan (Laban) coalition led by then Sen. Ninoy Aquino lost in the 1978 Interim Batasang Pambansa regional elections, the late Speaker Ramon V. Mitra was quoted as saying: “I won’t run anymore in any election until the Comelec has learned how to count!” The disastrous defeat of all the 21 opposition candidates that included Neptali Gonzales, Ramon Mitra, Jr., Tito Guingona, Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Ernesto Maceda, Charito Planas, Soc Rodrigo and many other household names in politics reflected the bankrupt state of the electoral process in our country during the dark years of martial law. After the Edsa Revolution, we have had relatively peaceful and clean elections and an orderly transition of power from one administration to the next. Unfortunately, it was marred by the so-called “Hello Garci tapes,” which seriously cast doubt on the electoral victory of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over her leading opponent, the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr. We trust that the 2022 presidential election will be free from any controversy or anomaly to spare our nation from political tension and civil unrest.
It’s exactly 101 days before voters line up at the polls to elect our next president. The election period for the 2022 elections started on January 9, 2022, which ushered in, among others, the imposition of gun ban. So don’t be surprised if you see checkpoints in strategic places manned by the police authorities deputized by the Comelec to enforce its strict compliance. Suspension of elective local officials, transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service, organization or maintenance of security forces, use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates unless duly authorized by the Comelec, and alteration of a precinct or the establishment of a new precinct are likewise prohibited. When undertaken during the election period, these actions are likely to be motivated by politics and resorted to in order to influence the election results. On top of the massive preparations like the printing of ballots, distribution of election forms, paraphernalia and ballot boxes, the poll body is faced with numerous legal and administrative issues, foremost of which are the disqualification cases filed against the leading presidential candidate, Bongbong Marcos, and preparation for staging presidential debates. We trust that our poll body will still have enough time and resources to address and resolve them. And more critically, we expect the Comelec to enforce the laws without fear or favor, immune from any influence or pressure by the party-in-power or any vested interest. No one doubts that conducting elections amid the pandemic is a formidable task. Getting voters to actively participate in the electoral process under the threat of a lethal virus is an uphill effort. While health protocols mandate people to stay at home, election activities like political rallies, caravans, town hall meetings, presidential debates and casting of votes are public events that gather huge crowds. All of them are superspreader events, which deter people from going out of their homes. We don’t have to underscore that the success or failure of the forthcoming elections will depend on the competence, management capability, integrity and independence of the Comelec.
The Comelec is a constitutional body designed to be independent from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government to ensure the conduct of free, fair and honest elections. It enjoys broad powers as it performs judicial, regulatory and administrative functions; aside from its primary duty of administering the elections amid the pandemic.
The Comelec is confronted with a very critical challenge at the moment. The chairman, Sheriff Abbas, and two members, Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Anthony Kho, Jr., are retiring next month, just three months away from the 2022 elections. With their impending retirement, election observers are worried that their successors may be partisan and biased to the party in power. The exit of the remaining two commissioners who were appointed by former President Noynoy Aquino, Chairman Sheriff Abbas and Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, may spell doom to a clean and honest election. Election watchers like Lente, Kontra Daya and NAMFREL have expressed serious concerns against the loss of independence of the poll body. NAMFREL Secretary General Eric Alvia has issued this alarm when he stated: “The primary concern is competence and integrity of the commissioners, especially now that we approach this very important election. People will look at the independence of the commission as a gauge on how the elections will be conducted.” For its part, another election watchdog, Kontra Daya, emphasized the need of keeping the Comelec free and independent from political influence. It’s convenor, Danilo Arao, has stressed that the appointment of Comelec commissioners should not be confined to people close to the President like his law fraternity brothers, schoolmates and fellow Davaoenos. In a statement made last year, Arao alleged that “Duterte apparently wants a Comelec composed of “yes” people based on past and current choices of commissioners.” He pointed out that retiring commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr. and the last appointee, Commissioner Rey Bulay, are fraternity brothers and schoolmates of the President, while Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, Socorro Inting and Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio are all from Davao. I personally know some of the incumbent commissioners—in fact, two of them are my fraternity brothers and schoolmates who had ably served their previous government positions with honor and dedication. All eyes are on the President right now since the credibility of this year’s election hangs in the balance. I hope that the President will exercise great prudence in selecting the new chairman and commissioners. Since all the members of the poll body will all be appointees of the President, the competence and integrity of the Comelec may be compromised if he betrays his oath. Thus, Arao has called on the people to monitor the President’s new appointments and to put pressure on the appointing authority to take the public interest in making these appointments.
John Lewis, the late civil rights leader in the US and a representative of the state of Georgia for many decades, has once said: “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.”
Many had risked their lives and security so that people could enjoy and exercise their freedom of suffrage. Compared to the US and other advanced countries, our country’s voting rate in presidential elections is higher, but this trend may be reversed if the voters perceive that the Comelec does not know how to count. It will be a lasting credit to the President if the results of this year’s presidential election will reflect the true will of the people.