An Assertive COMELEC Can Dissipate Rumors

Despite the assurances coming from the military brass and Malacanang officials that the May 10 automated elections will push through, the country is rife with rumors and conspiracies relating to the expected failure of elections scenario. Even presidential bets are affected by it as they issued possible moves should there be an attempt to prevent the holding of elections or to mess up the results. Some religious bishops even participated in the current public debate on whether there will be a failure of elections and what the public should do should such scenario take place. Despite all these, the country is now ironically one busy place on earth for election campaigning. National and local candidates are now working 24/7 to convince the voting population that they are the right choice for the country come May 10 polls. In effect, rumors of failure of elections are either relegated in the sideline or that the people are still weighing the credibility of this event from happening. Perhaps a quick assurance from the COMELEC coupled by their ability to strengthen their mandate to conduct a clean and safe elections on May 10 will calm the nerves of people who worry day and night about the possibility of election failure. Election officials should start to be assertive and prevent chaos and confusion from happening. They should enforce election rules and mete out penalties or punishments to candidates and political parties who abuse them. During the election campaign period up to the actual day of voting, an assertive COMELEC operating as an independent constitutional body can maintain order and cause rumors to dissipate by simply adhering to its mandate to conduct elections and enforce the rules with clarity and decisiveness. If it continues to be in the background while all kinds of rumors and gimmicks are taking place, then there is no question that May 10 polls will fail. Right now, the most powerful political entity in the country in terms of powers and responsibilities is the COMELEC. On the other hand, it is also the body that will absorb most of the blame should the first automated polls of the country fail and no winners are declared.