ELIMINATE HUMAN INTERVENTION ENSURE CREDIBLE TRANSITION
OF POWER - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today emphasized that we need to ensure a credible transition of power by having a clean, honest and orderly 2010 elections.

"We should take into consideration that our main aim is to ensure the conduct of a transparent, credible, fair, accurate and fast election. Thus, ironing out all aspects of this planned automated election is a prerequisite in achieving our overarching goals. Election is at the heart of a democracy, and it we must exhaust all efforts to ensure that it will always reflect the will of the people," said Angara who crafted SB 2984 which seeks to authorize a supplemental appropriation in order to conduct an automated election.

RA 8436 as amended by RA 9369 authorizes COMELEC to use an automated election system in the conduct of national and local election. RA 8436 and RA 9369 were passed as early as December 22, 1997 and January 23, 2007 respectively.

"Poll automation will pave way for clean, orderly and speedy elections which is the hallmark of democracy and lies at heart of Filipinos' democratic aspirations," added Angara.

Like India, the Philippines is headed for a transition of power by next year's general elections. The current economic slowdown demands that our national elections be credible and accurate, and express the will of the people. Any doubt with its results could stir political instability and lead our country to a downward spiral of political uncertainty and economic mess.

"At a time of increased unemployment and poverty, we need a new leadership with a strong mandate, one which emanates from the confidence and goodwill of our people. This can only come from clean, fair and credible elections," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "Setting up the country's automated electoral system is a crucial step toward clean and honest elections. While it will not be a cure-all for the country's electoral problems, automating the polls will eliminate a lot of the human intervention that has made vote-rigging possible," added Angara.