NP sees no problem with foreign observers

NAVAL, Biliran , Philippines  – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. supports President Arroyo’s encouragement of foreign observers to monitor the first automated election in the country.

“It’s a welcome move. This will serve as a deterrent to anything wrong that may happen during the elections. If we have nothing to hide in this elections, then there is nothing wrong with inviting foreign observers,” Villar said.

He said, however, that foreign election monitors should only “observe” and not meddle with the country’s internal politics.

NP vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda and NP senatorial candidates Adel Tamano, Mon-Mon Mitra, Bong-Bong Marcos, Gwen Pimentel, and Martin Querubin also favors having foreign observers around during the May election. 

“Its always been done in manual elections...For me it’s not intervention, “ Legarda said.

Pimentel said having foreign observers would show that the democratic process is working in the country.

“I welcome them as long as what they do is to observe and not try to do in anyway anything that will impede our electoral process. They are most welcome so that there will be more transparency and the world will know how the democratic process in the country is working,” Pimentel said.

Tamano agrees: “This is our national elections, they can observe but the moment that they interfere, that’s another thing.”

Mitra noted that no other Asian country has a fully automated electoral system.

Marcos said having foreign observers would deter any group who might want to undermine the credibility of the elections.  

 “Foreign observers can also help prevent small-scale fraud and members of the administration who try to prolong their stay in office,” Marcos said.  

Querubin said the presence of foreign observers would discourage plans to sabotage the election.