Comelec’s ‘Comedy of Errors’

There are so many glaring errors made by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as far as simple citizens’ perceptions are concerned, that it should be called the “Comelec of Errors” (borrowed from Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors”).

The matter of designated common areas for posting political campaign materials, for instance. Posters of national candidates (senators) and local candidates (governors, board members, mayors and counselors) jostle for space in crowded common areas. This could result in confusion among the voters. What is even funnier, sometimes the tarpaulin of well-known food chains can also be found beside campaign posters.

Voters might think Jollibee is a candidate.

May we suggest segregated campaign areas for national and local candidates in the next elections?

And please, so many candidates have violated the required sizes and period of posting tarpaulin materials. One candidate endorsed by a high official has super-sized tarpaulins disguised as “greetings,” and are seen all over the Philippines. Funny, this candidate was not included in the list of those who have violated the Comelec provision on campaign ads. His ubiquitous stickers in comfort rooms and under mango trees are also highly visible.

In addition, there have been discrepancies between surveys conducted in campuses and universities, and those by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia. Should a

law be passed to regulate the conduct of pre-election surveys to prevent the manipulation of voters’ minds, or the bandwagon effect?

ISIDRO C. VALENCIA, [email protected]