It’s not something we should expect but must think about and even prepare for:
the possibility, no matter how remote, that the May 10 elections will fail, leaving as without a duly elected President when the term of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo finally ends.
In such a vacuum, Nueva Ecija Representative Eduardo Nonito Joson fears “there might be a military power grab.”
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile should give way to a peer whose term will end in 2013 to ensure a smooth transfer of power in case of a failure of elections in May.
Joson points out the three people in the line of succession—Vice President, Senate President and House Speaker are also leaving office together with President.
- The eenators with terms ending in 2013
The Senate should choose among the remaining 12 senators with three more years in office so that if there will be a failure of elections, we will have an acting president.
The worst thing that could happen is the military might not let go once it holds on to power and President Arroyo, with her strong loyal support from the military, would remain in Malacañang even after her term ends.
Joson has authored House Bill No. 3194, which proposes to appoint as the country’s acting President the most senior or the one who got the biggest number of votes in the previous election among the remaining 12 senators.
Under the Joson bill, the acting President is mandated to supervise a new presidential election within 60 days upon assuming office.
Sen. Loren Legarda topped the 2007 senatorial race but she is running for vice president in 2010. Sen. Mar Roxas is running for Vice President while Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Sen. Richard are running for President.
We must also note that while Sen. Antonio Trillanes’ term also runs till 2013 his continued incarceration on rebellion charges has prevented him from attending the sessions of the Senate.
Whatever anyone’s reservations are, it certainly seems Joson’s proposal is worth considering.
I wonder, though, if there is material time for the Senate to pass a counterpart bill to the House version which is also pending.
The legislative, and legal, conundrum disturbs.
Popularity: 1% [?]
i thought lacson’s term ends this year?
at any rate, i think we should give serious consideration on this proposal because as what i see, the COMELEC is not at all prepared for the POLL AUTOMATION.
mabuti na yung may fallback, just in case
Ding,
This is the Perfect Storm: Conspiracy Theory meets Murphy’s Law.
Priceless!
Nothing of that scenario unfolds, from where I sit.
It is just a Joson speaking and look at history – over a period of 100 years, they still run their place.
Have you missed on that Ding?
hi primer:
i wish to note that the josons lost the governatorial slate last election to oyie umali.
Whatever anyone’s reservations are, it certainly seems Joson’s proposal is worth considering.
We can damn the messenger. But closely examine the prospect, the danger/s being put forth.
Primer, I know about the Josons.
Interesting summation there Phil, :)
But seriously given our socio-economic woes and the state of our governmental institutions, a power vacuum resulting from bungled polls is a dreadful portrait.
What you put in your mind. If it stays there. It will manifest itself.
If you continue thinking about it.
We cannot do anything about it, if election will fail.. Just be vigilant. And make the coming election work. Hope for the best. However, work hard to make it a reality. That the elction will be successful.
“Hope for the best. However, work hard to make it a reality. That the elction will be successful.”
Then this election will be contest, not only among the candidates, but between those who want it to become successful and those who will work for its failure to further their political agenda.
And I think the former has the upper hand. Not because of superior planners and logistics but due to the people’s naivety.
Wake up guys. Resort to other plans. GMA will not give up power.
I mean the “latter.”
The words “….might not let go” is not likely, or is not likely to last for longer than 6 months. Reason 1: USA. Reason 2: ASEAN, who will give suggestions to shape internal affairs of Pilipinas.
Chaos from failure-of-elections is a bad thing, so is it okay for GMA extend her term beyond her term for 9 more months so elections gets held? What about for 3 months?
NO WAY!
“Hope for the best. However, work hard to make it a reality. That the elction will be successful.”
Then this election will be contest, not only among the candidates, but between those who want it to become successful and those who will work for its failure to further their political agenda.
And I think the latter have the upper hand. Not because of superior planners and logistics but due to the people’s naivety.
Wake up guys. Resort to other plans. GMA will not give up power.
Reply
If by the end of March we don’t have 100% delivery and testing of the machines we should just revert to manual counting.
Off all the polling companies out there we just had, had to rely on a South American firm!
There are many good things from Latin America – bananas, coffee, and beauty queens, automated elections are not one of them…and put Filipino + Latin American firms plus the bahala na/hasta manana cultures together and it’s disaster.
We could expect massive chaos and confusion, if not fradus, at election time. Why? There are no simple computer systems to those who have no prior exposure. Voters are unfamiliar with the system. Even COMELEC precinct personnel – the old reliable teachers, are complaining they haven’t gotten any training yet. How will the major political parties get their orientation too? They need to know how the three foot long ballots are issued and accounted for, when and how the ballots are read, how the results are kept in computer files, how the files are transferred to a medium and brought to the central consolidation centers, etc. etc. Orientation cannot be theoritical and imaginary, but should be on-the-fly, i.e., with the machines. But so far only a 3,000 units have been delivered and the rest – 40,000 units are still being manufactured in China. Also, who will do on-site trouble shooting and maintenance? OMR systems are sensitive to water and oil, and small blot intentionally placed on the ballot could throw the machine out of service. The ballot can also be invalidated by intentionally marking additonal candidates. I can’t believe COMELEC can do a country-wide dispersal before the May, 2010 Elections. Even they do will they have enough people to police the system? Good luck.
If election fails that means they still have a problem in using the electronic voting machine.That’s why in this early days before the election. They should act fast to give seminars on teaching some election officers and the voters .