I was glued in front of the television set earlier tonight to update myself with the current events of the country. As expected, fifty percent of the newscast was devoted on the upcoming elections. There was nothing special about the news and the progress of the election campaign. I must admit that other than the progress in the countdown to the May election, everything else was just another rigmarole of the Philippines’ one-of-a-kind Politics.
I could have passed the issues on tonight’s news. After all, I just admitted earlier that it was nothing but another cheap politicking. But not until I learned about the issue on Chavit Singson. Well, matters pertaining to Mr. Singson was already expected- neither new nor shocking. But it was the reaction of the Comelec towards the issue that really caught me flabbergasted at first….and totally agitated in the end. Not that I have high regards for the Comelec. As a matter of fact, it was the contrary.What Mr. Singson did in a province in Mindanao was beyond ignorance. When he was shown on television via GMA7 with a person handing an envelope (with money inside) to a particular person during the occasion of their campaign, he allowed that person to tell the latter that the money was given by him. He did not make any effort to correct the guy. He allowed him to continue to do the “sales-talk”. Right after the incident, he was interviewed by the media. There he admitted that he gave money for the raffle for fear that he might be tagged as stingy (for a gambler). But in tonight’s interview, he denied his earlier statements.
Then came the Comelec. As much as they would like it to be less-obvious, tonight’s statements were just so evident. Correct me if I am wrong, but the statement of the spokesman from the Comelec made him appear that he was lawyering for Mr. Singson- explaining to the media that there was no clear showing that the money was actually from the Senatoriable’s pocket. Isn’t it enough that Chavit admitted his act right after the incident, although he swerved to another statement later on after perhaps cogitating and realizing he is in big trouble?
The Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines is very clear. Under Section 104 it says:
Sec. 104. Prohibited donations by candidates, treasurers of parties or their agents. – No candidate, his or her spouse or any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or his campaign manager, agent or representative shall during the campaign period, on the day before and on the day of the election, directly or indirectly, make any donation, contribution or gift in cash or in kind, or undertake or contribute to the construction or repair of roads, bridges, school buses, puericulture centers, medical clinics and hospitals, churches or chapels cement pavements, or any structure for public use or for the use of any religious or civic organization: Provided, That normal and customary religious dues or contributions, such as religious stipends, tithes or collections on Sundays or other designated collection days, as well as periodic payments for legitimate scholarships established and school contributions habitually made before the prohibited period, are excluded from the prohibition.
The same prohibition applies to treasurers, agents or representatives of any political party.
Every Election is a rigmarole for the Commission on Elections. After all the anomalies in the past they are yet to prove themselves worthy of another chance of trust from the Filipino people. Every election is a challenge for them to prove us wrong of all our hasty generalizations. There is so much to prove. In the case of Mr. Singson, let us allow the Commission to give both tooth and spirit to the law. The Filipino people can afford to be lenient on that aspect because we have no choice but to be. But make no mistake. In this year’s election, the Electorates will be more vigilant and scrupulous. We have grown impatient in going over the same circle over and over. Haven’t you grown tired of being in this rigmarole? I am.
