LAST month was another election period for the Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC). This time, I experienced something “new.”
Since it was my last time to vote in the ABSC elections, I was curious on how the votes were being tabulated. However, I was unaware that students except official representatives of the political parties are barred from entering the St. Raymund’s (Artlets-Commerce) Bldg. on the “big night.”
I wondered why there had to be a “closed gate” policy.
Searching for answers, I asked my classmates who were also party representatives. They said the AB Commission on Election (Comelec) came up with that policy about five years ago to avoid electoral fraud, particularly ballot snatching.
What? Ballot snatching?
Artlets students deserve to know what happens to their votes. If it wants to avoid electoral fraud, the AB Comelec should start cleaning its ranks. Remember, it takes two to tango.
It would be impossible to spirit out the ballots without someone from the AB Comelec conniving, unless force was used.
On another point, media, in particular the Varsitarian, should not be barred from entering the “holy ground.” The Varsitarian is the chronicler of events in the University. It has a right to cover news unhampered.
The ABSC election is a process, which undeniably has been controversy-filled in the previous years. Experience suggests that interviews are better done on the spot—because belated statements are more likely products of afterthought.
The “closed-gate” policy is not even used during national elections, where anyone can view the proceedings outside the rooms where tabulations are done.
I think the AB Comelec should rethink such unjust policy. It would make apathetic Artlet students more apathetic. It would make them more indifferent toward the ABSC.
I believe “other” students should be allowed to view the tabulations. Since the vote-counting process is done during unholy hours, crowd control would be easier.
In previous years, the ABSC elections had been saddled with suspicions of electoral fraud. A “closed gate” policy won’t help the AB Comelec in its efforts to have clean and honest elections. It would all the more make students suspect something fishy is going on.
***
Finally, justice is served.
Last December 20, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court acquitted Fr. Macario Apuya, S.V.D. of charges of rape. After being jailed three-and-a-half years for a crime he did not commit, he is finally free.
I knew all along that Fr. Mac is innocent.
***
I don’t know if the top brass of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is really serious about getting rid of kotong cops.
Late last January, as I was going home at around 1 am, a policeman flagged down the taxi cab I was riding in for beating the red light. The policeman then asked for the driver’s license. However, I noticed the policeman did not issue a traffic violation ticket on the spot and instead returned to the station.
After a few minutes, the driver told me he was not going to get “ticketed.” He said he would try to “bargain” for his license because it seemed it was what the policeman wanted. True enough, the driver went back later and said, “Isang daan (P100) pala ang gusto niya.”
I hope the PNP makes a serious effort to remove kotong cops from service. Although they may not be big-time sharks, they still put the police force in a bad light.
