Palace exec to public: Think positive on 2010 polls

Three days after she raised the possibility of a junta in case of a total failure of elections, a Malacañang spokeswoman appealed to the public Monday to "think positive" about the coming May 10 polls. In a radio interview Monday, deputy presidential spokeswoman Charito Planas stressed that all preparations are in place for the country’s first nationwide automated elections. "Ang eleksyon ay matutuloy at lahat tayo magtutulung-tulungan para yan ay matuloy ... Wala tayong mapapaboran kung negative tayo nang negative (The elections will push through if we help each other to make sure it succeeds. We will do each other no favors if we keep thinking negatively)," Planas told dwIZ radio. It was a complete turnaround for Planas, who on Friday said it was possible the military could take over the country if there was a total failure of elections in May and it led to a power vacuum. When asked if she meant a junta could take power in the Philippines in such a situation, she said: "It could be." No cause for worry? But on Saturday, presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said that a military takeover should not be the cause of worry even if the automated polls fail and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has to revert to manual counting in May. [See: Palace backtracks on possibility of military takeover] Taking the cue from Saludo, Planas said there is no cause for worry as the Comelec is working to address all problems. "Ang Comelec, lahat na naisip na pagkukulang yan ay pinupunan. Di totoo na di matutuloy [ang eleksyon] (The Comelec is addressing all possible problems. It is not true the elections will not push through)," she said. Planas said generators are being positioned in areas without electric power, while the Palace expects the energy situation in Mindanao to improve. She insisted that only those who want to land in the newspapers to gain media mileage are still making a big deal of a failure of elections. "Ang haka-haka galing lang sa gustong mapansin na sila ay maperyodiko, ma-TV, ma-radyo. Panahon na tayo at least tingnan natin ang paghahaka-haka nang sa ganoon tuloy-tuloy ang eleksyon at pag-angat ng bayan (Such speculations come only from those who want media mileage. It is time we not take such speculations seriously so we can make sure the elections push through)," she said. Arroyo sure to step down on June 30 Planas reiterated that President Arroyo is sure to step down on June 30. She said this is why Mrs. Arroyo is going around the country to inspect ongoing government projects. "Yang pagbaba niya tunay na tunay po. Ang pagiikot sa Pilipinas kanyang tinitingnan ang proyekto na matatanggap ng susunod sa kanya. Ang di pa natatapos ay naano na matapos bago bumaba. At ang di natapos sana ituloy ng susunod sa kanya," she said. (Her stepping down is a sure thing. That is why she is going around the country, checking on government projects. Projects that are finished will be turned over to her successor while those still unfinished will be rushed for completion, or be referred to the next president for completion.) — RSJ, GMANews.TV