En garde, Padre!

What's going on? After confidently declaring to the media that he was enjoying his assignment as the Commission on Election Task Force head in the troubled areas of Mindanao, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento suddenly ups and resigns the post. What exactly happened? He was crowing that the assignment was a challenge, and that it did not faze him, giving all of us hope that a clean result would come out from the scheduled special balloting. And what did he mean by saying his decision to quit was due to "health problems?"

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Ah, it now looks as if more mysteries can be expected in the area since the same places that have become notorious for monkey business in past elections are still up to their old tricks. This time, perhaps, they underestimated the persistence and determination of the volunteer groups as well as the media in trying to ensure that this country gets the officials it had truly voted for. But what are those who are keenly watching and reporting getting?

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The ABS-CBN men sent to cover the voting and canvassing there have reportedly received threats on their lives. The TV company reacted sharply, threatening also to run after anyone who would dare touch their people. The two, Ricky Carandang and a certain Alamar, if they are still in that region, must keep looking behind them as they go about with their jobs. The sources of those threats are not joking, they should remember that. They should also not forget that Philippine journalists are already known to belong to the most endangered species in this part of the world.

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Another one who should continuously watch his back is the parish priest-turned-governor of Pampanga. A message has already been delivered: One of his political leaders, in San Juan, Guagua, Mario Nulud, was gunned down right in front of his residence the other day. His opponents are that angry, and they know that it will not be easy to pinpoint who did it because he had beaten two very powerful, moneyed and influential contenders for the gubernatorial post. So all we cant tell him is: On your guard, Father Ed!

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Of course it is anybody's right to ask questions, especially if one is aggrieved over having lost in the election. But it was rather surprising to see former Senator Nikki Coseteng complaining and seeking for the declaration of a failure of elections nationwide. It is strange because Zubiri, Recto and Defensor who are desperately trying to edge each other out in order to get nearer the winning margin, have not even sought such a thing. And it is Coseteng who is Number 22, or thereabouts, who is the one griping. She must feel bad because newcomer Sonia Roco is even ahead of her in the totals. But that's politics, and she's no novice in the game.

***

The funny thing about this election is that this time, it is the administration ticket that is, as they say in cockfights, "dejado". The counting and canvassing in Mindanao must be giving them more sleepless nights, since it is clear now that many or most of them had been counting on getting the bulk of the votes from there. Just imagine, a news headline in a national newspaper yesterday was saying: TU filing cheating raps vs. GO". By the way, if you had been wondering who had been orchestrating and funding the campaign of detained Oakwood mutineer Antonio Trillanes, I saw an item where Senator Jamby Madrigal was admitting that she was one of those backing him.

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In the meantime, it has just been announced that the country's colleges and universities have been granted authority to raise their tuition fees with the opening of classes. This is sure to raise a big howl, not only from parents, but more from student activists who will find an early cause to rally and protest against. This time, however, they should also look at this from the side of the schools that have to pay increased salaries to teachers, maintain their operations and also keep up with rising prices of supplies and commodities. The educational institutions cannot pay their teachers and staff starvation salaries if they want to maintain good teaching standards. At the moment, I can imagine school administrators bracing themselves for the reactions to the hikes.*

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