Voters to benefit from presidential debates — Comelec

11/15/2008

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed hope that the voters will be more educated with the holding a televised debates of presidential aspirants for the 2010 national elections.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, in a statement posted on the electoral body’s Web site, said the televised US presidential and vice presidential debates helped voters decide.

“The debates informed the electorate about the candidates’ persona and stand on issues like the raging economic crisis, energy, healthcare, global warming, education, US war in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.,” he added.

Sarmiento flew to Washington, D.C. last Oct. 31 to represent Comelec Chairman Jose A.R. Melo in the 2008 US Presidential Election Program sponsored by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

The poll official said the program provides many lessons on ballot democracy worth pon-dering as the Philippines prepares for its automated presidential election in 2010.

Among these many lessons are: The tri-media (TV, radio and print) kept the electorate informed about current issues and in projecting the potentials and capacities of the competing candidates. Also young voters made a big difference in the elections and the use of automated election system fast-tracked the voting, counting and announcing of election results.

Meanwhile, the electoral body also has suspended all recall election petitions for lack of funds.

Citing funding constraints, the Comelec en banc ruled to put on hold all recall petitions filed and pending before the poll body until funds become available.

“Therefore, the commission resolved, as it hereby resolves, to suspend action on all recall petitions filed and pending before the commission until funds are made available for the purpose,” it said in a resolution.

Comelec Resolution 8547, dated Nov. 13, 2008 states that despite the “numerous” recall petitions filed and pending before the Comelec, the funds available for recall and special elections is only P5 million.

“The request of the commission for the release of additional funds for recall elections was not favorably considered due to funding constraints,” it noted.

It was gathered that one of the best-known recall election cases under Comelec’s consideration was filed against Pampanga Gov. Eduardo “Among Ed Panlilio” by an organization called Kambilan.

The group said it has lost confidence in the leadership of Panlilio, a priest granted leave by the Church to run for public office.

Recently, Melo said it is unlikely a recall election would take place in Pampanga because the poll body could not finance it, stressing a recall election could cost the the commission P30-40 million. Mina Diaz

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