Peace must reign in polls

Politicians out to win today’s election by force or by cash should stop in their tracks.

Even if they emerge as victors, the triumph will be hollow and a perversion of  democracy.

Sixty-six people have been killed so far in  election-related violence across the country, according to the Philippine National Police.

We condemn the senseless bloodshed that reflects an obsession for power.

We join everyone  across the archipelago, regardless of creed or absence thereof, in praying and hoping for a peaceful exercise and that no more people will be killed.

We commend the police officers and armed forces  who staved off  election violence that threatened to spill over into Cebu.

Last Saturday, policemen caught  10 men, some of them armed and carrying envelopes of cash, with an apparent mission to buy votes and harass voters in Alegria and Santander towns.

Not only were some armed, they had money bills, illegal drugs and sample ballots.

The men arrested in Alegria were reportedly working for Santa Filomena barangay captain Arnold Cuevas, a candidate for councilor.

The sample ballots confiscated in Santander bore the name of Ma. Alona Ator, a mayoral bet.

Cuevas and Ator are candidates of One Cebu, but the party’s gubernatorial bet Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district denied that their allies hired goons.

One Cebu also issued a statement yesterday alleging that their allies and supporters in Cebu towns were being harassed by members of the Regional Mobile Group in collusion with the Liberal Party.

A political party that shuns vote-buying would forcefully tell its  candidates not to resort to bribing voters.

It’s also worth repeating by the top brass in the police for its men to avoid any behavior that may be misconstrued as partisanship.

Despite early examples of the worst side of Philippine elections, the people are energized today and stake our hopes  on today’s elections as an exercise of free choice.

Teachers have put in their share of preparing well for today’s service as members of the  Board of Election Inspectors.

The Commission on Elections has worked double time to mount a second automated election, this time one completely under their control.

Groups like the Cebu Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation for People Empowerment in Liberation (C-Cimpel) and Dilaab have contributed through candidate and voter formation.

Candidates, political parties and  law enforcers must work together to allow the voice of Cebuanos and the rest of the Filipinos to be heard today in a peaceful,   orderly and fair manner.

We deserve  a fully democractic exercise of choice.