Comelec comes to Marawi
In the exercise of its constitutional mandate to conduct honest, orderly and peaceful elections, top officials and employees of the Commission on Elections came to Marawi City last weekend. A plebiscite was called on the creation of two barangays, which Mayor Majul Gandamra said would enhance the delivery of public service to the residents. The Comelec was there in the exercise of its plenary oversight function.
The creation of the two barangays was proposed under a Sagguniang Panlungsod resolution. After the 2017 siege of Marawi, there was heavy migration and relocation of evacuees from the most affected areas to Barangays Sagonsongan and Boganga — the mother barangays. The populations of these barangaysshotupdramatically necessitating the creation of two new ones — Barangays Datu Dalidigan and Bonganga 2. Under Republic Act No. 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro government has the power to “create, divide, merge, abolish, and alter the boundaries of towns and villages.”
Comelec Chairman George Garcia and the commissioners personally supervised the plebiscite last Saturday which helped ensure that it would be peaceful and credible. It was conducted manually from the voting to the counting of ballots. The result was an overwhelming vote for the creation of the two barangays.
Chairman Garcia noted: “Democracy is alive here in Marawi. This plebiscite is important. It is not only symbolic, but this is to prove that life has returned to Marawi City.”
Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said, “They were united in casting their vote and finally having what they wanted — additional barangays that will address their needs.”
The visit was significant in more ways than one. It ensured that the plebiscite would be truly reflective of the will of the people and not be manipulated by political interest groups. The entire local government structure tasked with conducting peaceful and orderly elections was at hand to welcome the Comelec officials. Officials of the Department of Education, whose teachers composed the Board of Election Inspectors, reported in a briefing their readiness to conduct the plebiscite. The Philippine National Police assured the people the plebiscite would be peaceful with plans and strategies in place in case of emergencies or plots to thwart the process.
That the visit was made to Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur, was doubly significant.
Commissioner Ernesto Maceda, in a speech, recalled that Philippine jurisprudence is rich with cases involving complaints of fraud in the province. Indeed, landmark electoral cases often quoted in court pleadings involved electoral anomalies in Lanao del Sur.
Maceda likewise pontificated about elections being a democratic process where sovereignty resides in the people who choose the leaders. The province has traditionally been the target of poll reforms it being notorious for what the Supreme Court described in one landmark case as “where the birds and the bees vote during elections.”
The visit was nothing short of historic. Now the promise of “bringing the government to the people” is no longer an empty slogan peddled by placating politicians. It is a reality. The visit of the Comelec officials proved it. Their visit will contribute to making democracy workable and resilient.
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faces. They had one more wish, though, and that is for the government to finally release the promised compensation for their ruined homes and lost heirlooms and prized possessions.
The Garcia Comelec is promising delivery of its constitutional mandate. It is proactive. There is a glimmer of hope the electoral agency will be true to its mandate of conducting elections reflective of the true will of the people. The jury is watching.
“Commissioner Ernesto Maceda, in a speech, recalled that Philippine jurisprudence is rich with cases involving complaints of fraud in the province.