Westmincom to help ensure transparency in May polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) is partnering with various sectors to promote transparency in the upcoming polls.

Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Westmincom commander, said the joint effort will help ensure clean elections and in turn address political instability.

“The more eyes and ears, the more transparent (the elections) will be… We need transparent elections because the root of our problems is political instability,” he said.

“All throughout her (President Arroyo) term, her legitimacy is being questioned. If we are politically unstable, our development will be affected. The only way to improve the country is to ensure political stability. If we have this, the government can work for socio-economic development and cultural cohesiveness,” he added.

The initiative, dubbed as Covenant for HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) will gather more than 30 civil society, academic and religious groups in Western Mindanao to monitor poll irregularities and violence.

“I told them (the groups) we will be very transparent. We cannot be transparent if you won’t work with us, so we have to work together,” Dolorfino said. – Alexis Romero