Final list

Lots of people look forward to the 2010 Presidential elections as a make or break situation. To them, the elections will decide whether we will have more of the same kind of governance as we have now and in the past, or whether we will finally realize the much needed reforms that will enable us to break away from the traditional non-stop politics that has done more harm than good to our country.

Actually, true reforms are more realizable if we change first our Constitution, the basic “written instrument by which the fundamental powers of the government are established, limited and defined, and by which these powers are distributed among several branches for their safer and more useful exercise for the benefit of the body politic”. But with a body politic sharply divided on Charter change, we may just have to make the most of what we now have and work for reforms within the existing framework.

Without amending or revising the Charter, the much needed political reforms are indeed still possible. These reforms entail having a more credible counting of our votes and setting new criteria in the choice of our presidential candidates to come up with a final list for the 2010 elections.

More credible election results entail changing the manner of counting our votes and revamping the institution empowered to count them.

To be sure there is already a law authorizing the computerization or automation of our electoral process for a more credible counting of votes so that the true voice of the people is heard through the ballot. With the elections still a good two years away, ample time exists for its proper implementation.

For this purpose, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the body empowered to enforce and administer said law must be cleaned up first to prevent a repeat of that fraudulent and anomalous Mega Pacific automation contract. Otherwise computerization may just result in the counting of votes more fraudulent and anomalous than the past 2004 and 2007 elections involving a former Comelec commissioner and high ranking election officer from Mindanao.

This body can be cleaned up now because of the existing and impending vacancies in the post of Chairman and three Comelec Commissioners. I understand that the panel created by the President to look for probable appointees to the positions has already come up with a short list. I hope the list contains the names of principled, independent minded, patriotic, and non-political men and/or women of integrity and character who will not be swallowed by the rotten system but on the other hand will resolutely overhaul it. The list should be the result of a thorough search rather than a mere screening of applicants actively seeking the positions or recommended by politicians. In fact they should be the first ones eliminated from the list.

With these reforms in place there is hope that the choice of the next President will be more credible and truly reflect the people’s will.

This early, there are no less than ten names being openly mentioned as probable candidates. Five of them, Noli de Castro, Bayani Fernando, Richard Gordon, Manuel Roxas and Manny Villar have openly and categorically declared that they are running. Sonny Belmonte, Loren Legarda and Gilbert Teodoro are also mentioned repeatedly but they have not confirmed or denied whether they are indeed in the race. Jojo Binay and Ping Lacson on the other hand have set conditions for their possible candidacies.

Even considering all of them, we can still pare down the list by process of elimination with the use of certain criteria.

We should first eliminate any one of them who has previously sought the position but was already rejected by the people. Ping Lacson is therefore out.

Then we should strike out from the list the candidates who have engaged in political wheeling and dealing and shifting loyalties like butterflies to advance their selfish political ambitions. There is a great risk that they will continue to engage in the same kind of politics while already in office. Included here are Loren Legarda, Manny Villar and Richard Gordon.

Also to be excluded from the list of our choices are those who obviously managed to enrich themselves while in power and continue to hold on to such power by establishing a political dynasty in their territory. Jojo Binay clearly fits this description and should therefore be out.

The last in our list to be scratched off are those belonging to the moneyed elite whose families have remained in the political scene and have held on to some kind of power and influence apparently to protect their huge vested interest thus placing in doubt the purity of their intention to promote the public interest and the common good. To this category belong Mar Roxas and Gilbert Teodoro of the Roxas and Cojuangco clans.

In the end therefore, only Sonny Belmonte, Noli de Castro and Bayani Fernando remain in our list of choices. All of them have proven themselves capable of relatively good governance: Noli, in his position as the Housing Czar and as the guardian of the welfare and interests of our OFWs; Sonny as the honest, dedicated and competent Mayor who has made Quezon City the premier City of the Nation; and BF as the MMDA Governor whose no- nonsense method in enforcing the rules and regulations have instilled discipline in the Metropolis. Besides they are the only ones who have somehow stuck to their principles by not shifting party or personal loyalties.

Electing any of them to the Presidency inject a fresh outlook on our politics that may bring about the much needed political reforms.

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