Lobby for election reforms

THE Supreme Court has issued another temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Commission on Elections (Comelec), this time preventing the poll body from proclaiming winners in the party-list elections. Unlike a few weeks ago, however, Comelec chief Sixto Brillantes is no longer complaining. He said he will abide by the court ruling.

The High Court granted the request of the party-list group Coalition of Association of Senior Citizens of the Philippines for the issuance of the TRO. The Comelec disqualified the senior citizens’ group for engaging in illegal term sharing.

But while Brillantes no longer complained about the Supreme Court rulings that hampered the implementation of Comelec decisions, he should review the setbacks he encountered with the end in view of improving the poll body’s supervision of the country’s elections.

We have mentioned earlier the need for legislation on premature campaigning after the Supreme Court “decriminalized” it in its ruling on Perena vs. Comelec. Brillantes pushed for such legislation when he assumed office but Congress failed to pick it up.

Comelec can also lobby for Congress to review the innovations that it attempted to introduce but which were shot down by the High Court. Among these: placing a cap on TV and radio political advertisement, the proposed money ban and the disqualification of some party-list groups.

Of particular interest is the party-list election, whose conduct needs to be reviewed.

Many suggestions have surfaced following Comelec’s recent attempt to define the “marginalized” sectors that should be given representation in Congress. It is time for Comelec and Congress to come up with legislation that would straighten out the party-list elections.

The problem with the Comelec and other sectors lobbying for reforms in the electoral setup is that they are like the owner of a house with leaking roof and who gets interested in repairs only when it rains. His logic? “Motulo ra bitaw na’g mag-uwan.”

The conduct of the May 13 elections showed many flaws that should be cured through legislation. Comelec, with a former election lawyer like Brillantes at the helm, should take the lead in listing down the proposed electoral reforms and lobbying vigorously for these in Congress.

Sun.Star Cebu