Group calls for special elections

An advocacy group proposed yesterday the holding of a special election to peacefully resolve the long-festering political crisis that they lamented is "paralyzing the country and pushing it to the brink of a civil war."

The proposal of the People’s Assembly for Genuine Alternatives to Social Apathy (Pag-asa) calls for the resignation or non-violent ouster of President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro.

The group also wants corrupt election officials to be replaced, deep electoral reforms, and the conduct of special presidential and vice-presidential elections within six to 12 months after toppling the Arroyo administration "to install a new and credible political leadership and government."

In a statement, Pag-asa said they envision electoral reforms to include, among other things, the revamp of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), "re-registration of all voters," cleansing of voters’ lists and polling districts, equitable media exposure for all candidates, and the computerization of electoral returns.

"Pag-asa does not believe in pessimistic comments that a special election will simply replace the GMA government with another set of corrupt traditional politicians," said Nicanor Perlas, Pag-asa co-founder and co-spokesperson.

"The disgust of Filipinos against GMA (Mrs. Arroyo’s initials) and traditional politicians (trapos for short) is widespread. Thus, Pag-asa is confident that, in a clean and honest election, Filipinos will choose candidates with proven integrity and leadership above trapos even if these candidates are new to the political process," Perlas said.

"Disgruntled citizens are already electing credible non-politicians in other countries around the world. We should therefore not be afraid to let go of the known evil we have now in order to take on the risk of striving for the potential good that awaits us," he stressed.

Pag-asa launched its advocacy for a special election yesterday at the University of the Philippines.

"Our call for a special election is not a simplistic solution to the complex societal problems that we face. It is a beginning of a long process to restore genuine democracy in our country," the group said.

Pag-asa describes itself as a "spiritual-cultural movement calling for an end to manipulative elite rule and the establishment of true democracy through systemic reforms backed by inner change."