May 10 Polls Still A Go

COMELEC continues to believe that problems in the voting machines can be fixed before voting day. Thus, since it is mandated by law to enforce and implement the automated elections law, COMELEC is pushing through with the elections despite massive protestations from various civil society groups as well as concerned candidates that the May 10 polls be postponed. The May 10 polls will therefore push through, unless another test run of the CF memory cards inside the PCOS machines malfunction again. It is therefore up to the COMELEC to decide the fate of the first automated elections in the country and in effect, the fate of a nation. But this constitutional entity must be aware that the people still have the upperhand in deciding what is best. The will of the people must be preserved, as always, in any nationwide elections, and the May 10 polls is no different from previous elections except in the manner in which the voting was conducted. There is nothing elese that the Filipino people can do in the coming days except to prepare for the coming elections for this will decide the future of the country for the next six years. This is the stepping stone to reaching the dream of millions of Filipinos, especially to the millions who who have been suffering from the effects of massive corruption in government and extreme poverty in society. The May 10 elections is by far the only path open to the people to get even with those in power who have monopolized political and socio-economic power in the country. For once, the general public will rule over any one else, even for just one day, when they vote deserving candidates for public office. But even after voting, the people should remain vigilant and remain ready to respond aggressively to any threat to subvert this sacred exercise of suffrage under a democratic way of life.