Comelec: Vote to register dissent, approval of gov’t

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday called on voters to register their dissent or approval of the government through their votes in the coming May 9 elections.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said voters should start using the elections as the main mechanism to exact accountability from politicians.

“If voters demand more substance and concrete solutions from politicians, the country stands to benefit in the longterm, unlike when people sell their votes for small monetary and momentary rewards,” Bautista said.

Bautista reiterated the Comelec’s commitment to use the full force of the law to ensure that every ballot cast on May 9 would be counted correctly.

Bautista, however, stressed the importance of staying vigilant and helping the Comelec guard their votes.

Bautista further assured the public as well as the Catholic Church that the Comelec would continue working towards making the electoral process inclusive so that results of the elections will truly be reflective of the people’s will.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas earlier lauded the Comelec for working towards a “truly credible election – one that is not only honest, orderly, and peaceful but is also perceived as such.”

Villegas also urged Catholic voters to choose candidates who were “truly upright, respectful of the dignity of all and compassionate towards the poor.”

Villegas further reminded the faithful that the “use of violence, vote-buying and cheating in elections were incompatible with Christian values.”

Bautista added the Department of Health (DOH) would set up first aid stations in polling precincts all over the country on Election Day.

“As you all know, summer has probably kicked in by May and the heat combined with the throng of people in voting centers can cause heat stroke, among other illnesses. We just want to have quick response teams in place,” Bautista said.

“First aid and essential medicine will be provided to voters and government personnel performing election duties,” he added.

Bautista said the poll body would formally sign next week an agreement with Health Secretary Janette Garin providing for the setting up of first aid stations in voting centers.

He said the DOH would shoulder the cost of the setting up and operation of the first aid stations as well as the hospitalization expenses of government personnel who may suffer illness while performing election duties.

Meanwhile, the Comelec would start printing of the official ballots for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Bautista said that after the ballots for the overseas absentee voting (OAV) are printed, the ballots to be used in the far-flung areas of the country would be prioritized.

“We will print ARMM ballots next because they have to be shipped ahead of the others. We first deploy the ballots and election paraphernalia intended for polling precincts in far places,” he said.

Ballot printing for OAV started on Thursday afternoon after the Comelec was able to regenerate a new ballot face containing the name of the People’s Reform Party (PRP), the political party of presidential aspirant and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.