Democracy News

Despite Concerns, Philippine Elections Hailed a Success
May 12, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

The Philippines move to an automated vote-counting system ahead of last week’s general elections seems to have paid dividends, according to the Christian Science Monitor as election results, usually not available for weeks, were made public just two days after balloting.  With most of the results already in, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, whose mother Corazon Aquino overthrew dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the “people power” revolution in 1986, appears poised to succeed Gloria Arroyo as the country’s president.

The successful administration of the elections was never assured; a glitch in over 70,000 automated counting machines discovered just days before the election raised the possibility of widespread vote fraud and prompted calls for the elections to be postponed.  The contest went on as scheduled, though, as the country’s election commission (Comelec) rushed to address the problem.  Despite concerns over the new system, irregularities were generally random and would “not have a significant impact on the results of most races,” according to a statement from the World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA).

The WFDA statement, made in conjunction with the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict-Southeast Asia (GPPAC), also applauded Filipino citizens and officials for the election’s success. “We were impressed by the dedication and patience of the Filipino people, who turned out in very large numbers, despite having to grapple with an entirely new voting method,” the statement said, commending civil society groups and “many other institutions which made significant contributions…taken together, this collective commitment demonstrates the high value the Filipino people place on their democratic rights.”

The WFDA also noted that the elections could “help return the Philippines to the path of democratic development,” but while the elections were seen by many as a turning point for Philippine democracy, they were not without incident. Ten people were killed in election-day violence, bringing the total of election-related deaths since the start of the election period in January to 29.  Still, there was considerably less violence than in previous contests, according to the Christian Science Monitor and national police chief Jesus Versoza said the elections “will go down in our nation’s history as probably the most peaceful and orderly political exercise ever held in our land.”

In addition to Aquino, Filipinos voted in a number of other familiar faces in last week’s poll.  Imelda Marcos, the widow of Ferdinand Marcos, won election for a municipal seat.  Her son and daughter also won election to public office along with Manny Pacquiao, the country’s favorite son and world-renowned boxing champion.

Sources:

Foreign Policy – The Philippines Wacky Election

World Forum for Democratization in Asia Statement

New York Times – Philippine Landslide Seen for Aquino

World Buzz Now – Philippines Elections 2010

Christian Science Monitor – Philippines Election Results Pour in with Efficiency that Surprises Many