DAY 1
Presentation of Electoral Reform Agenda
The program proceeded with all four convenors presenting their
electoral reform agenda. Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes
and Laws started the presentations.
Sen. Angara deplored the farcical nature of elections in the Philippines
by pointing out that the many previous elections have been marred,
in some way or another, by fraud or violence. He stated that unless
this fact is acknowledged, we would remain in a culture of “money
politics” and poor governance. Through the Summit, Sen. Angara
hoped that initiatives could be concretized to transform the prevailing
culture of elitism and patronage to one of populism and public service.
To pursue this, he identified the three-pronged senate committee’s
electoral reform agenda: (1) the implementation of the mandate to
modernize elections; (2) focus on party system to cover the campaign
finance reform bill for transparent governance and the political
party act for a strong party system; and (3) expansion of electoral
base by enfranchising overseas Filipino through the absentee voting
system.
In conclusion, Sen. Angara acknowledged that although there is
a need for broad electoral reforms, effective reforms could also
be instituted in the multi-partisan and sectoral efforts at crafting
and implementation of legislative measures. (See Annex
3 for a full copy of Sen. Angara’s speech: Reforming the
Electoral System)
Sen. Wigberto E. Tañada, president of the Philippine Rural
Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), spoke in behalf of his organization
and as a member of the CER. He expressed optimism in the current
effort for reforms, given the determination, cooperation and coordination
of all sectors concerned. At the same time though, Sen. Tañada
stressed that the Summit cannot afford to fail or to take a longer
time, due to the pressing need for substantial change.
Civil society’s electoral agenda were identified by Sen. Tañada.
One broad concern would be the amendments to the party-list law:
(1) representation for the truly marginalized and underrepresented
sectors. (2) a formula that would maximize the mandated 20% of seats
for the party-list, (3) For COMELEC to define standards for accreditation.
Sen. Tañada also expressed full support for an absentee
voting system. Other proposals for reform mentioned were: enactment
of an anti-turncoatism law; implementation of the modernization
law; initiating discussion and study for campaign finance reform;
continued and intensified voters’ education to raise the level
of voting habits and decisions of the electorate. The heavily damaged
system that we are in should not continue, he said, and hoped that
changes will finally come to bear. (See Annex
6 for Sen. Tañada’s speech: Now is the Time for
Electoral Reforms!)
AKBAYAN! Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales and IPER President, followed
as the representative for CER. She began by describing the system
with the prevailing trends of traditional politics, popularity and
personality-based elections, flawed party-system, political dynasty,
and political consumerism brought about by rampant vote buying.
Thus, she continued, a majority of Filipino people remains alienated
from the electoral process.
Rep. Rosales then mentioned concerns, which should be considered
in crafting electoral reform legislations. First up, was for us
to have a review and grasp of our history and that the electoral
process be seen as essential in our fight for independence. Amending
the party-list system was also among the issues cited. She also
noted that the party system must be reformed and be acknowledged
as integral to the entire electoral process.
A line-up of Rep. Rosales’ pending bills on electoral reforms
in the current Congress was also presented: (1) absentee voting,
(2) the party-list law amendments, (3) local sectoral representation
law, (4) changes to the modernization law, (5) campaign finance
reform, and (6) the anti-dynasty and anti-turncoatism bills. Finally,
Rep. Rosales merited the concerted efforts of the government and
the civil society to strengthen our frail and weakening electoral
and democratic institutions. (See Annex
7 for Rep. Rosales’ speech, The Urgency of Electoral Reforms
in our Democracy)
Next to address the body was Chairman of the House Committee on
Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Rep. Augusto Boboy Syjuco, who pointed
out the reality of “rich-becoming-politician” formula
in our political and electoral system. He likewise recognized that
politics and economics could not be taken separately; hence efforts
to reform one must include reforms of the other.
Rep. Syjuco outlined the three-point agenda of the House Committee:
first is empowerment and democratization, which includes the enactment
of the absentee voting bill, legislation providing for multiple
citizenship, enabling law for sectoral representation in the local
sanggunians, and amendments to the Party-list System Law and to
the Peoples’ Initiative Law and Referendum Law. The second
involves modernization, which refers to the implementation and review
of RA 8436 or the modernization law and of RA 8189 or the continuing
voters’ registration measure to address any legal and procedural
infirmities of such laws. The third is concerned with providing
equal opportunity, covering among others, legislations strengthening
political parties and providing for equal chances for public service
– reforms on campaign financing, overseas voting system, ban
on political dynasties and firmer penalties for election offenses.
(See Annex 4
for Rep. Syjuco’s speech, Electoral Reforms: A Call to the
Basics)
For his part, Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo anticipated the
summit to be a venue for discussion about the current state of our
electoral system, about the reforms to be instituted, and about
how we can realize such changes in time for the 2004 elections.
He hoped that through such an initiative, the organizations and
individuals present and coming from different sectors, can rise
above themselves – which he uniquely described as thinking
outside the box – as equal stakeholders in task of reforming
the system. In the end, Chairman Benipayo hoped that the electoral
summit would be seen as a model of governance, through meaningful
public-private partnerships, worthy of emulation. (See Annex
5 for Chair Benipayo’s speech, Thinking Out of the Box)
