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Election and Democracy (A perspective from a Filipina in NRW)
Introduction
I would like to welcome you all who are here today and in this workshop. I am happy for your presence in this seminar which shows your interest/concern about what is going on in the Philippines especially about the preparation of the forthcoming 2010 election.
Fifty days from now, Philippines will have her synchronized national and local elections. There are 45.53 million registered voters who are expected to vote on May 2010 in about half a million precincts in 79 provinces in the Philippines plus the absentee voters who are distributed around the globe.
Aside from the presidential and vice presidential candidates there are 82 registered political parties competing for national and local elective positions, 36 candidates for the 12 senatorial slots, 690 candidates for the 212 district seats in the House of the Representatives, 91 sectoral organizations vying for 42 Party list seats in the House of the Representatives, 209 candidates for the 79 gubernatorial positions, and 2011 candidates running for various local elective positions.
What does election and democracy mean in the context of the Filipino people?
According to the book Philippine Democracy Assessment by Edna A. Co and company, elections are the means by which citizens choose their representatives who would shape and make policies and decisions governing the people. In elections all citizens, rich and poor, educated or unschooled, male or female, young or old are considered equal- each voter cast one vote and each vote is the equal of any other. Elections constitute the one best way for the people to exercise their control of government- choosing, recalling, or changing those who form the government.^1
Elections are supposed to be means by which every citizen is given the chance to exercise his or her democratic right in view of having the freedom and liberty to choose according to his or her personal decision. The exercise of every
(^1) Philippine Democracy Assesment: Free and Fair Elections and the Democratic Role of Political Parties. E.A.Co, J. Tigno, M. Lao and M. Sayo. Manila,Philippines.2005.p. 1
qualified person to participate in the election is an expression of his or her democratic right.
Unfortunately election is not that simple and easy in the context of the Filipino people. The exercise of the right of suffrage is not considered as the ultimate exercise of democracy. Scholars argue that since nineteenth century, election in the Philippines were rituals without democratic purpose. It was institutionalized by the Spanish rulers to elect officials, but according to Glenn May, “it was to be not a ritual worthy of respect but rather a charade, silly and laughable.”^2 Today election is always associated with fraud and violence. The act of choosing leaders which is supposed to be a right and duty of the citizens are oftentimes mishandled or not respected. Most of the time elections are smeared with dishonest tactics (ex. vote-buying), results are manipulated, and self- directed interests are perpetuated.
How does politics interpreted in the Philippine society?
In the Philippine society, there are three prominent interpretations of the Philippine politics. First is the patron-client, factional view that emphasizes about personal relations and networks linked by kinship, friendship, exchange of favours, influence and money? Second is the elite-democracy interpretation which acknowledges the importance of patron-client relations but adds the elite’s use of intimidation, coercion and violence. Despite having democratic looking institutions, the elites use their connections, wealth, positions and force to control the countries’ resources and people. The third interpretation which might be considered neo-colonial interpretation, shares much about the second interpretation but it sees the connection of the foreign business and American military interest dominating the country.^3 This makes the difference between Philippines to other Southeast Asian countries because election in the Philippines is also used to protect the foreign interest and maintain the control of the US.
Associate Justice Regalado Maambong a noted election lawyer commented that although the Philippines have a good election laws, it is premised on mistrust. This lack of mistrust is institutionalized (in such practices as indelible ink, the number of padlocks in each ballot box (three), the number of watchers per precinct).^4 Hence it is very doubtful that the democratic right of the citizens are respected and the national and peoples’ interest is protected.
(^2) Glenn May, Civic Ritual and Political Reality in R.H. Taylor, ed., The Politics of Election in Southeast Asia. 1996, p.137 3 Essay: Contested Meanings of Elections in the Philippines. Benedict Kerkvliet. The Politics of Elections in Southeast Asia. Edited by. R.Taylor. USA.1996 p.
(^4) Phil. Democracy Assessment p.
different centers in Germany namely Berlin (667), Frankfurt (598) and Hamburg (546).^6
The EU Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) disinterest in Philippine election
It was reported by Charles Kelley that many Overseas Filipino Workers in Europe are not interested to vote.^7 This was the impression from Fr. Edwin Corros of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) from the OFW of at least five countries in Europe, namely, Rome, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; and Berlin, Germany. “My impression is it doesn’t really matter to them who will be running for president or who are the candidates. Their fear is will this election be a credible one,”^8 he said in an interview. Corros said majority of the OFW whom he was able to talk to already lost hope in the Philippine government due to the worsening situation in the country.
He added, “it’is hard to convince them to participate which are very saddening. I really thought they were enthusiastic in changing the government but it seems there’s so much distrust,” he said. “It seems they also distrust the candidates because to them they are no different from those they are replacing. That’s why they are painting this grim scenario.”^9
Aside from distrust in the government, some people whom I have asked who have been in Germany for many years are no longer updated of their privilege to participate in the elections and there is also lack of information about this issue. Moreover there is not enough motivation for the Filipinos abroad due to the fact that the registration and voting centers were few and far between.
Suggestions during the workshop discussion to encourage more voters to participate:
- To improve the system of registration and make it more accessible for the overseas voters
- To make information drive for the overseas voters informing them of their right and privilege to participate in the election
(^6) AOV Website (^7) Phil. News. EU OFW’s disinterested in Philippine election. Charles Kelley. January 13, 2010 (^8) Ibid. 1 (^9) Ibid.
