Filipinos, Comelec should remain vigilant to prevent cheating, Bello says

Filipinos should remain vigilant to prevent massive fraud during the forthcoming May elections, a Cabinet secretary said. Silvestre Bello III, Secretary to the Cabinet, made these remarks over by Radio Mindanao Network after Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago aired her concerns over possible cheating during the May polls. "Pinakamaganda riyan is vigilance of our people and vigilance of Comelec. Pag sama-sama yan tiyak we can prevent large-scale fraud and cheating in the automated election, [The country can prevent large-scale fraud and cheating in the automated election if we combine the vigilance of our people and the Commission on Elections]," he said. Bello also expects no opportunity for massive cheating – as claimed by Senator Santiago – citing “foolproof" preparations made by the Comelec. "Wala akong nakitang paraan para dayain yan, at ako ay naniniwala na medyo foolproof naman. I have full trust and confidence in the Comelec sa kanilang pagpapatakbo sa ating halalan, [I cannot think of any way to cheat the election process and I have full trust and confidence in the Comelec’s ability to hold our elections," Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said in an interview by Radio Mindanao Network. In a privilege speech she delivered earlier, Santiago warned of plans to commit fraud in the forthcoming polls, the Philippines’ first automated elections. Cheating could be done through violence or tampering of ballots, she said. Another election proposed 45 days after May 2010 In a separate interview, former president Fidel Ramos proposed the conduct of a “second" election anywhere from 30 to 45 days after the May polls. The contest will allow the country to have a “majority president" leading the country, he said in an ambush interview after the New Year Vin d’Honneur in Malacañang. Ramos, who became president with less than one-fourth of total votes, said it is difficult to have a majority president when there are seven or more vying for the post. At least eight candidates are looking to be the country’s chief executive including Senators Ma. Anna Consuelo Madrigal, Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Villar, Richard Gordon, former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Vitaliano Acosta, Juan Carlos Delos Reyes, and Nicanor Perlas. The Philippines should adopt “a run-off election maybe 30-45 days after the election proper, between the number one and number two presidential aspirants so that for sure you can have a majority president," he said. - GMANews.TV