As the country and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) prepare for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls this year, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday, March 9, issued a reminder about electoral cheating and the importance of electoral reforms to ensure the efficiency of the democratic process and protect the citizens’ right to vote.
Speaking at the National Election Summit in Pasay City, she recalled how she led her own volunteer and support groups in all the past five elections that she had been a part of.
“But I always say to my volunteers and supporters when we start to make strategic plan during my run — do not cheat. Because there is no honor in cheating and it’s embarrassing to be a mayor but you got it from cheating,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English.
“Nakakahiya humarap sa mga tao, magalit sa mga tao kapag mayroon silang ginagawang mali (It is embarrassing to face the people, be angry at them when they do something wrong) or implement the law, and yet, ikaw mismo nakuha mo ‘yung (you got your) position mo because of pandaraya (cheating). There’s nothing honorable about it (It is embarrassing to face the people, be angry at them when they do something wrong or implement the law, and yet, you got your position because of cheating. There’s nothing honorable about it),” Duterte added.
She shared that when she spoke before the League of Municipal Mayors, she “requested” and “reminded” them “not to use the teachers to make them win the elections” because it is their work in their communities that should make people vote for them.
However, although elated that the summit gathered together election stakeholders to work and address gaps in the country’s election process, the Vice President lamented that in many areas in Mindanao, vote-buying and voting twice are still prevalent issues.
The Vice President said that in Mindanao, voters are able to vote in different towns and barangays because there is no national database of voters.
She asked if there’s a way for the Comelec to move away from the traditional shading of ballots or writing names on the ballots, and instead use technology—fingerprint scanning, face scanning, and eye scanning—to ensure the sanctity of the votes.
“By working together in this undertaking, we can transform our electoral process, promote fair, honest, and safe elections. And above all, pave the way for a well-informed voting public who will elect the rightful leaders of our communities and our nation,” Duterte said.
As Education chief, which she holds in a concurrent capacity, she also put a spotlight on the importance of integrating voter’s education in the country’s K-12 program, as well as the protection of teachers as members of the electoral board.
“I welcome the integration of voter’s education in our K-12 program to help prepare and equip our Filipino youth with the ability to discern and engage responsibly in this democratic process,” she said.
“By instituting civic education in youth- and nation-building, we encourage the involvement of an empowered citizenry guided by Filipino values, discernment, and knowledge that are crucial in cultivating a culture of participative democracy,” the Vice President added, stressing that the youth’s participation in this year’s baranggay and SK polls “will influence their future political participation and civic engagement.”
However, Duterte expressed awareness of the challenges faced by public school teachers when they serve as members of the election board every elections.
Aside from giving them their stipends before the actual polls, so they’ll have money to spend on food and transportation, the Vice President called on law enforcement to ensure their safety and security, especially against “warlords” and “private armies” in far-flung areas.
“Let us also prioritize avenues for improved technical and legal assistance education among public school teachers as members of the electoral board and as vanguards of the electoral process,” Duterte said.
“I am truly happy that there is this summit that is led by the Commission on Election to discuss how we can improve this democratic process so that the will of the people is clear, and the choice of the people is the one who is declared the winner,” she furthered.