Talking from experience EDITORIAL 05/22/2010

Talking from experience

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 05/22/2010 The Palace has raised the possibility of a political firestorm similar to the one that formed in the aftermath of the “Hello Garci” scandal as allegations of cheating in the country’s first automated polls continue to build up. In the 2005 controversy, the allegations of fraud became too evident that Gloria appeared on nationwide television to say her infamous “I am sorry” and the protests that accompanied it resulted in calls for her to step down and triggered a coup in 2006 that was averted only after Gloria allegedly bought off the allegiance of military brass. Despite fending off an ouster, Gloria plodded through the six years of her extended presidency by keeping herself on the saddle. Noynoy Aquino, if he is proclaimed president-elect by Congress as a National Canvass Board, may face the same curse of public distrust if he assumes the presidency and consigns the fraud allegations as part of gripes among the losers in the just concluded elections. The outrage shown by Makati Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin on automated poll supplier Smartmatic’s nonchalant admission of errors in the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines as readouts, passed off as “unforeseen” would likely be a precursor to a similar level of public outrage as more defects, intentional or not, of the expensive poll system come out in the open.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100522com1.html

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