We need a credible Comelec

This is just an appetizer.

The two Senatorial teams fighting it out in this election are the Team Unity Team Arroyo and the other is Grand Alliance Genuine Opposition.

The acronym is TUTA vs GAGO.

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We cheer our local Comelec officials. Last Saturday the Negros Press Club under the presidency of Jun Julita held a seminar on media election coverage.

Comelec Provincial Director Jesse Suarez and Bacolod Comelec Registrar Mavil Majarucon vowed Comelec will be uncompromising in the implementation of election laws and not be beholden to any one.

Yes, we need a credible Comelec, one that must be above suspicion. I talked to both Suarez and Majarucon and promised the full support of media. Only when our media is supportive of officials performing their functions will they not think of being influenced. They should maintain their credibility and therefore, their dignity.

One Comelec official told me a politician invited her for a conference in the politician's house. Did you go? I asked. No, she said. She politely told him to make the conference official so it must be made in her office.

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It would have been a disaster for both politician and Comelec if some media people, like dogs have sensitive noses to sniff at a conference like this.

Both Suarez and Majarucon plan a media caravan this week all over Bacolod, then from San Carlos in the north to Hinoba-an in the south. They will take pictures of posters displayed not in the proper places.

Then the headquarters of said candidate will be informed and asked to have them removed in three days. If not, a disqualification case will be filed against the candidate.

This is for national senatorial candidates. In the first week of April, another caravan will be made for local candidates. Filing of certificates of candidacy of local candidates has its deadline on March 29.

Suarez and Majarucon will be tested on how well will they implement Comelec laws. Only when candidates see that the Comelec is serious will they follow the laws.

And only when they see Comelec people are serious will they think twice of corrupting them.

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Both former President Fidel V.Ramos and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, heroes of the Edsa Revolution and both friends and contemporaries of the late Rafael M. Salas, were here yesterday on the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Salas' death.

FVR went to the breakfast of Sunshine Boys at McDonald's.

FVR, 79, at the same age of many of the Boys, was adopted as an honorary member.

He fits well in the group which enjoys life as a way of living a longer life. FVR believes he can live up to 100.

He regaled us with his very many anecdotes. FVR came with former Mayor Joy Valdez but admitted both candidates for Bacolod mayor are his relatives.

Bing Leonardia's maternal surname is Ramos while FVR's maternal surname is Valdez. Besides, if Joy was at FVR's left, Toti Ramos, uncle of Bing was at FVR's right.

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Here's another news. Lawyer Joel Dojillo, on the egging of many Negros Press Club people, is now running for mayor of Bacolod. And he is biting.

He stopped being a media man interviewing people and he was interviewed himself. "How do you expect to win?" Answer, "I don't expect to win because I will not spend. I just want to provide an alternative to people who have long suffered frustrations."

There are still 24 days before the filing of the certificates of candidacy. And many night be still interested.

If by the grace of God, yes that's what Joel needs most, he wins, we will be proud that our Mayor came from Sunshine Channel. We will ask him to continue his program "Crossline."

Imagine, we will have two Mayors, Sonny Coscolluela of Murcia and his program "Negros First" and Bacolod's Joel Dojillo of his "Crossline."

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When I was introduced to President Ramos yesterday, he said, he is also a columnist. Yes, he writes a weekly column in The Manila Bulletin. And his insights are good. I read him every week.

Yesterday he discussed well the topic of elections, poverty, and people empowerment. Only during elections, he wrote, that some people can have a good meal from the money given them by politicians.

FVR cited Bangladesh that with the help of the Gramen Bank can be the first country to be poverty-free in 2030 as worked out by Prof. Yunus, a 1984 Magsaysay Awardee. FVR, unlike other columnists, discussed the issues in depth.*

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