EDITORIAL - Say no to violence

The precinct count optical scan machines are passing their second test, after reconfiguration of their memory cards, and the Supreme Court has junked all legal challenges to the holding of the country’s first fully automated elections tomorrow. Energy officials have given assurance that there will be no blackout on election day. Public school teachers and volunteers of the accredited poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting are prepared to conduct random manual audit of the vote nationwide. If the PCOS machines fail on election day, officials of the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic appear willing to be hanged.

Everything seems set for the May 10 elections. But there is one factor beyond the control of the courts, the Comelec and Smartmatic, which could still lead to a failure of elections: violence. In recent days the Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed thousands of troops and brought armored vehicles to Metro Manila, ostensibly to serve as a backup for the Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order particularly on election day. The AFP deployment was made as security officials warned of a purported plot by communist rebels and Islamic separatists to disrupt the vote in Metro Manila – a story that was denied by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In other parts of the country, violence is not a threat but a reality, as candidates and their supporters are harassed or murdered by their rivals. Permanent elimination of rivals is the worst form of cheating, and every effort must be made to bring murderers to justice. Comelec officials have said security problems could delay the vote in so-called hot spots. Such disruptions could open opportunities for cheating.

Apart from the deployment of security forces, public vigilance will prevent the use of violence to sabotage the vote. Gun ban violators and other troublemakers must be reported immediately to authorities. Political parties have their respective networks that can alert security officials who can be trusted to act on threats. Preventing the outbreak of violence is part of guarding the vote.