Folks hope pols’ ‘dirty tactics’ will be stopped

By Dexter A. See

TADIAN, Mountain Province – Folk of this remote town are hopeful “dirty tactics” of politicians on election day on March 10 with the implementation of the automated election system, such practices would be eradicated.

Students, teachers, barangay officials and concerned residents aired this sentiment when they attended the recent voters education conducted by the Commission on Elections at the campus of the Mountain State Polytechnic College here.

Dr. Nieves A. Dacyon, MPSPC president, said implementation of the automated election system was timely.

Students said the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the counting of votes could be favorable so results will be immediately known by the people to prevent unscrupulous supporters of greedy politicians from mangling results.

Henry Guitgit, municipal election officer here, said results of the municipal level will be immediately known in a span of an hour compared to the manual elections where the results are officially announced and confirmed after a few days.

Barangay officials said local election officials must initiate barangay-based voters education in the coming days prior to the elections so that the ordinary people will be properly informed on what to do before, during and after the elections to guard their votes so that it will be properly counted in favor of their chosen candidates.

Professionals in the town were supportive of the automated election system to cure maneuvering and cheatings done by unscrupulous politicians and their supporters.

But concerned sectors in the locality said they were apprehensive PCOS machines will effectively and efficiently work on Election Day.

But Dacyon said local election officials MPSPC will conduct more education campaigns.

She rallied the electorate of the province and the town to be vigilant so that the sanctity of the ballots will be preserved and that the “dirty tactics” of politicians wanting to hold on to power for their own personal and political aggrandizements will be stopped.

While Mountain Province and its ten towns are known for peace and order even during the elections, there are still some erring provincial and municipal candidates who employ “dirty tactics” to ensure their victory at the expense of their rivals and the innocent electorate.