EDITORIAL - Sanctity of the ballot

Some people might dismiss him as a nutcase, a sad man who sounds like a broken record. Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., however, knows whereof he speaks when he warns the nation over and over about the dangers of poll cheating. Pimentel is a confirmed victim of dagdag-bawas, that type of vote shaving and padding in manual voting that certain groups have perfected. Pimentel reiterated his warning yesterday, claiming that a poll fraud project code-named Oplan Checkmate is in the works. Those accused of involvement have denied Pimentel’s allegations.

Since Pimentel is a partisan player in the elections, there could be basis for counter-accusations that he is merely politicking when he warns of poll cheating. His warning, however, can still serve as a reminder to the nation that there are only four weeks left to ensure that the elections on May 10 will be clean and orderly.

Elections are supposed to pave the way for a peaceful handover of power and the implementation of urgent reforms. These cannot be possible, however, if cheating mars the elections. Or make that massive cheating, since Filipinos have gotten used to fraud in practically every electoral exercise; the only question is how widespread and brazen the cheating will be on May 10.

This late in the campaign period, no one is sure if mechanisms are in place to prevent a repeat of dagdag-bawas and the snatching and switching of ballot boxes. The Commission on Elections, distracted for a long time by poll automation and now unable to get a billion-peso refund for an aborted deal, appears to have consigned to fate the conduct of the polls. That leaves the protection of the integrity of votes to the citizenry. With just four weeks left before election day, concerned citizens must prepare to guard the sanctity of ballots in their respective communities. This republic can only be weakened further if evil minds succeed in thwarting the people’s will.