The Quick Brown Fox

[Jeff]

The Manila Standard Today
Jan.7, 2008
By Joyce Pangco Pañares

The administration has begun forging alliance with several political parties in preparation for the 2010 elections, but the man tasked to spearhead the coalition building wants the Commission on Elections abolished first to ensure a clean presidential elections.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who is overseeing the talks among the political parties, said improving the country’s electoral system is the more pressing task at hand.

“The poll body is the greatest threat to our democracy and maintaining the status quo in the Comelec would threaten democracy. We need to introduce changes, and we should do it right,” Gonzales said. “It will take the support of the people, of the various political parties, and of various leaders of society, including those from the religious sector.”

Gonzales heads his own political party, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas.

“As for the coalition building, we are now trying to consolidate our alliances. We are assessing how big our strength is. But more importantly, before identifying our standard bearer, we need to introduce reforms,” he said.

Several names have been floated as possible standard bearer of the ruling Lakas coalition headed by President Arroyo. Among them are Vice President Noli de Castro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

The coalition is composed of Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, Mrs. Arroyo’s own party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Gonzales said the Comelec might already be beyond salvation and that an entirely new electoral system that is more effective in safeguarding the electoral process is needed.

“Instead of prematurely preparing for their candidacies, aspiring candidates, especially those eyeing the presidential post, should first help find ways on how to make the next electoral exercise honest and credible,” he said.

Gonzales said the PDSP will launch this week its proposal for electoral innovations while he would submit a memorandum to President Arroyo seeking guidance on the political reforms that have to be instituted within the coalition.

Remarks:

I can't believed why somebody single out COMELEC to be abolished, the mistake of few, is not the mistake of everybody.

They should not jump immediately into conclusion seek the truth among their ranks first. If they really want to have a clean election, look at the whole system form a committee to investigate and uproot the core of deceits inside the election process .

[since1980]

Isn't it too early for 2010?

Those damn pols should concentrate on their jobs instead of jockeying for the presidency as early as now.

[Jeff]

It just only shows few are sincere in service. The rest, puro pa pogi at payaman nalang inatupag. Yep, two more years to go but for them, it seems there is no tomorrow. Crazy thing is, kalaban kahapon kaibigan ngayon at nakasimangot bukas, thats the funny thing about politics. They are like clowns in the circus hehehe.

[since1980]

agree bro...

even here in naval, the local pols are busier preparing for the next election than actually doing their tasks as mandated by the people.

[Jeff]

Why do politicians aspire even to death any political sets, wherein fact their salary there is not as big as an ordinary rank and file to middle managers in a private firm.

Or maybe they want to be called honorable, sen, congressman, mayor, gov, kap...Or how about other off the record benefits...Dapat lahat ng tatakbo sa lahat ng Government Positions or any political sets mandatory makapasa sa CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS (as part of minimum requirements).

[beyond]

its a business mga bro.... politician sucks!!!

[Jeff]

These honorable politicians supposed to think how they can serve well the masses not how they can serve their own selves.