NEWS
[ Editorial ] Comelec comedy

Senator Richard Gordon considers “idiotic” and “irresponsible” the insistence of the Comelec that it could not still computerize the coming May 2007 elections despite the signing into law just days ago by President Arroyo republic Act 9369. All that Comelec could do was automate the transmission of results in certain pilot areas according to Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos.

And who goofed? Gordon says Abalos and other top Comelec commissioners could be answerable for abdication of responsibility; he argues that Comelec has always been part of deliberations on poll automation. It meant that during such deliberations Comelec could have already clarified that time constraints could not make computerization possible even in just six provinces and six highly urbanized cities for a start as the new law stipulated. The computerization would have involved voting, counting, canvassing, transmission and even recount.

In this country of endless tension and anxiety, this one however comes as a comic relief.

Imagine. For months they quarreled, as usual, in the august halls of Congress just to have the law enacted. once the bill was through the legislative mill President Arroyo signed it only for the proponents to realize it was impossible to meet the timetable for this year’s election when the efficacy of the touted, anomaly-free, system could be tested.

Perhaps, Senator Gordon had spent too much time talking. his loquacity and acidic tongue could be the culprit but Abalos may be impeached as Gordon threatened.

Funny but some supposedly knowledgeable people in the government can look too naïve and detached from reality. The government is not awash with cash that every legislation passed could have automatic allocation. Moreover, the physical requirements of installing the equipment have to be reckoned with.

At least there is a law which lamentably for now cannot come true and cannot benefit the people yet.