Palace hopes for 'less heckling' with poll automation on

MANILA, Philippines — With the poll automation project back on track, Malacaňang officials on Sunday called for an end to “heckling" and more focus on transforming the country's electoral process into something more modern, reliable, and credible. “While it is vital for the electorate to continue to be watchful and vigilant, we hope that there will be less heckling and cynicism that serve only to unduly distract and discredit the efforts of our election officials," presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said in a statement. Claudio was apparently reacting to warnings by the political opposition that the poll automation project could be sabotaged with a view to declaring a "no proclamation (No-Proc)" during the May 2010 elections. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, United Opposition (UNO) president, earlier said the automated polls should not lull voters into giving up their vigilance against fraud. "Those who are determined to cheat, and especially those who are fearful that an honest election will remove them from power will definitely find ways to mess with the election results," Binay said, adding a "No Proclamation" scenario may result from a sabotage of poll results. Claudio said Filipinos should now look forward to an election that everyone could be proud of, with “responsible cooperation" among the Commission on Elections, Smartmatic-TIM, the election watchdogs and the electorate. He said a credible and efficient elections will guarantee the country's political harmony and stability in 2010. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said while the Palace is calling for everyone to cooperate with Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM, they should still be “prepared for the worst." Tell-tale signs Binay said it would be a challenge for the Comission on Election (Comelec) to address incidents of sabotage, “especially during the counting of votes, if the loyalty of some ranking police and military officers is to Mrs. Arroyo and not the Constitution." He said the political turmoil that could result from the failure to proclaim a winner in the 2010 election, will provide Mrs. Arroyo a justification for emergency rule and even martial law. He said this will be easy to implement, if Mrs. Arroyo's "loyalist generals" would have succeeded in wresting control of the leadership of the police and military. Such a move would allow Mrs. Arroyo to bully provincial local executives during the campaign period, using the anti-insurgency campaign as an excuse, he said. Binay recalled a portion of Mrs. Arroyo’s speech during the Lakas-Kampi merger last month, warning local officials against consorting with “enemies of the state." “The anti-insurgency campaign will provide a convenient cover to bully local executives and the populace into supporting the national candidates of Mrs. Arroyo," he added. He noted Mrs. Arroyo had pushed in her speech for an “alliance" between local government units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the war against insurgency as a campaign thrust of her administration. She also warned against local officials “flirting with enemies of the state" that they are undermining the community and the republic. “The administration is simply providing a convenient excuse to deploy the military to the provinces during the election period. Local executives who plan to support the opposition will now have to think twice," he said. “With the military making its presence felt during the election period and with the threat of being labeled as communist sympathizers hanging over their heads, the local executives will have little choice but to submit to the political wishes of Mrs. Arroyo," he said. Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the government is hopeful that the poll automation program will succeed. “Nothing will jeopardize the upcoming elections. It will happen and we trust the Comelec to iron out every detail and consider all variables," she said. - GMANews.TV