AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star
Your Chair Wrecker was calling to task the Comelec (Commission on Elections) for the way the automation process of the May 10 elections was conducted when almost everybody was hailing the poll body for the speedy reporting of the election results.
Thus, if anyone should be angrily denouncing the Comelec for the many complaints which are now sprouting all over the place — it should be your Chair Wrecker. But that is not happening because all of these complaints being leveled against the Comelec are coming from suspicious sources and the complaints are not supported by hard evidence.
The explanations of the poll body and the PPCRV (Philippine Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) to the various complaints and charges of poll irregularities — that these appear more to be discrepancies and not cases of deliberate electoral fraud — are credible. At the very least, the results of the national elections are consistent with pre-election surveys as well as exit polls.
Except for the incredible revelations of “Robin” the whistleblower, who was also dubbed as “Koala Clown” because of his mask, the bulk of the complaints came from losers in local contests. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez ably tore to shreds the claims of “Robin” the so-called whistleblower. The dubious whistleblower’s claim that soon-to-be proclaimed vice president, Jojo Binay, enlisted the services of their cheating syndicate establishes a motive — to discredit Binay’s victory.
Had Jamby Madrigal or Nick Perlas or JC de los Reyes won the presidential election — then we should be alarmed about the automated results of the elections. Had Perfecto Yasay won the vice presidential election — then we should also be alarmed about the results of the vice presidential elections. But the fact is there were no surprises in the results of the presidential, vice presidential and even senatorial races.
Indeed, in many of the local elections where there are claims of election fraud, the outcomes were also consistent with pre-election surveys. For instance, in Manila, the surveys showed that Fred Lim was the frontrunner by a very wide margin. It was the same situation in the Makati City mayoral and congressional elections. The results were consistent with the credible surveys.
As we know from past experience, many politicians here possess this character flaw of never admitting defeat and will always tend to claim that they were cheated. Quite pathetic are those losers of the presidential and vice presidential races who now cling to the illusion that they chalked much better numbers than the ones they got.
The last person who should also be displaying temper tantrums in the House Hearing on these alleged election fraud cases is outgoing Makati Representative Teddyboy Locsin. Where does Locsin take off after guaranteeing to the nation that all is well in the automation process, even when the alarms were being raised by credible IT experts like Gus Lagman?
Locsin was quick to dismiss these apprehensions and concerns over the Smartmatic system and in one ANC program even belittled these so-called ‘alarmists’ as people who do not know anything. Don’t you think it is the Filipino people who ought to be throwing a temper tantrum directed at Locsin for all his guarantees about the Smartmatic system?
A friend, an astute political watcher, made a valid observation about that House hearing on claimed automation fraud chaired by Locsin. It is this point — Locsin is himself an election loser just like those who were raising charges of election fraud. Locsin’s wife lost the congressional election in Makati City while Mar Roxas, the vice presidential candidate Locsin endorsed, also lost to Jojo Binay. Could this House hearing be an investigation in aid of attempts to reverse election losses?
The other fad in town is the name game — specifically the attempts to influence the selection of the Noynoy Aquino cabinet. Cellular phone text messages and intrigues being circulated on the internet as well as mass media are clear attempts to discredit perceived candidates for key posts. There are also attempts to place in a bad light certain groups who may have an inside track to the positions which will soon be filled in the incoming Aquino administration.
My good friend Conrad de Quiros wrote a series of columns recently about the groups which gravitate around Mar Roxas. Conrad wrote that behind the publicity is a group which purports to be “genuine reformists” — versus the group which they’ve labeled as “Kamaganak, Inc.”
Two things were indeed very wrong about the positioning. One is that the members of the group attempting to portray themselves as “genuine reformers” are nothing but opportunists hiding under that nice sounding label. Two is that “The Kamaganak, Inc” is a negative tag they conveniently associated with those who can block their attempts to corner the key positions in the Aquino cabinet.
One of the most coveted posts in any administration is that of the Executive Secretary, also known as the Little President. The so-called “genuine reformers” (genuine assholes would be more like it) had set their sights on capturing the post of Executive Secretary but they realized that Noynoy Aquino is much smarter than they thought him to be and had chosen a very close friend for the post.
Unfortunately, we cannot pre-empt Noynoy Aquino in announcing his chosen Executive Secretary. But rest assured that the person is very capable and this person’s father was a very close friend of Ninoy, Noynoy’s father. This person is considered a citizen above suspicion.
The composition of the Search Team, as your Chair Wrecker was informed by a very reliable source, ensured that there will be opportunities for all sectors to be heard and be able to recommend qualified persons for the many positions to be filled. Clearly, Noynoy ensured that no group shall dominate the Search Process.
It is healthy to discuss the fitness of certain candidates for the appointive public offices they are being considered. But this should be conducted objectively, without malice and for the sole purpose of forming the best possible Noynoy Aquino cabinet.
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Chair Wrecker e-mail macesposo@yahoo.com and website www.chairwrecker.com
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