No 2007 elections?

With the Ombudsman's decision regarding the filing of charges versus Commissioner Borra, the Comelec is now again in the limelight.

As before, the news is negative. The Ombudsman merely reiterated an earlier ruling of the Supreme Court regarding the anomalous computer deal entered into allegedly by several Comelec officials, not only Commissioner Borra.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, only one Comelec Commissioner was singled out as having been involved in the anomalous deal. Why? Only the Ombudsman can explain this decision. There have been speculations expressed, however, that among the Comelec officials, it was only Commissioner Borra who publicly admitted that cheating did take place in the last elections. Did this honest statement from Borra earn him the ire of the highest official of this land being questioned for allegedly cheating in the last elections? Again, only this official and the Ombudsman can answer this question.

The news we have all expected the Comelec to make sooner would have been about their ardent, serious preparation for the next 2007 elections. In view of so much allegations and counter-allegations about rampant cheating in the last elections, wouldn't it have been wise of the Comelec officials to proceed to ensure that the next elections would genuinely be clean and honest?

It is already July and barely a year from now, elections for local officials will take place. That is, if NOEL ( no election ) does not take place.

The Comelec does not seem to be in a hurry to install guaranteed mechanisms for ensuring clean, honest elections. Or for that matter, the Comelec does not seem to be moving in the direction of another election next year.

Will NOEL really take place as predicted by critics of Chacha and of this administration? Will NOEL be part of the rewards being dangled in front of the legislators in exchange for shooting down again the new impeachment proceedings versus GMA and in exchange for rushing the approval of Chacha?

At the rate the Comelec is not prioritizing any major and serious preparation for 2007 elections, and at the rate the Comelec officials are busy prioritizing their defensive posture that they are honest and never entered into any anomalous deal, it does seem almost certain that NOEL will take place.

As early as now, do we all say goodbye to 2007 elections? As early as now, do we also say goodbye to genuine democracy?

Imagine the implications. The same officials, deserving or not, will continue in power without the benefit of any selection process by the constituents. Imagine the invaluable right of every citizen of this country, the right to vote, the right of choice, invalidated because of Chacha, as a result of the connivance of the executive with the majority of those in Congress.

Will our people allow Chacha to be decided by a select group of partisan officials or will our people stand up for their right to choose their own system of government and the officials of their choice through constitutionally defined democratic ways and procedures?

Will our people be content to have their right of suffrage removed from them by majority vote or forcibly, by another unconstitutional decree from Malacañang, backed up again by certain forces of the military?

All those concerned should start to make their voices heard, loud and clear. All those concerned about real democracy should unite and make their united stand be understood and accepted by those who willfully disregard their democratic right of choice, of speech, of assembly.

The Comelec's inaction or misprioritization could be God's early gift to us to prepare to unite against those who wish to remove our right of choice as individuals, as a nation.

No to NOEL! Yes to 2007 elections! Yes even to earlier elections!

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