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Conclusion
[Continued
from Ambient Voices, Friday February 23]
Also, Comelec
officials must be at their posts when controversies arise where they
are expected to make decisions to uphold the law, to be fair and to
be just. Disappearances from their place of work at crucial moments
of the elections particularly during the counting has been known to
happen creating a chaotic and uncontrollable environment that
reduces the credibility of the results. Absences and omissions in
this way would be dereliction of duty. Comelec officials who leave
their posts must be asked to explain why and punished accordingly if
the reason is inexcusable.
Part of the
Comelec professionalism is to be evenhanded even distant from
partisan events, personalities and controversies. Like the
judiciary, Comelec should restrain itself from socials with the
public particularly partisan figures and events during the electoral
period. Comelec staff mobbing candidates when they appear in their
offices to register is improper and inappropriate. Comelec officials
must not only be correct they must give the perception of propriety
in the conduct of their duties.
Another aspect
of the professionalism that we expect from Comelec is to print and
deliver the ballots correctly and securely. The public will not take
it kindly but angrily if there are discrepancies and delays and
security lapses in the ballot printing. Being punctual , competent
and precise on election day is mandatory and that includes the
counting of the ballots.
It is also
expected that Comelec communicate to the public what it is doing,
why it is doing so and how they will do it in relation to the
elections. In particular, they must be very clear about how they are
treating disputes between candidates before, during and after
elections so that the public sees a rational and fair basis for
their actions.
The public is
in no mood for any more lapses on Comelec’s part this time around.
This is the time to atone their past errors. It is only right
because elections are the very definition of democracy. Any
mistakes, flaws, crimes that come with it damage the institution,
the country and the citizenry.
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