Deputy Presidential spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan on Tuesday said the May 10 elections have been a “success," and groups that predicted doomsday scenarios must now issue a public apology for their “baseless and irresponsible" statements.
Peyuan was referring to a supposed government plan dubbed Oplan Retain Arroyo through Failure of Elections (Oplan Rafael), disclosed by party-list group Bayan Muna, which cited the malfunctioning of the machines as part of a grand design to keep President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power. (See: PCOS glitches part of ‘Oplan Rafael’ to keep Arroyo in power—Bayan Muna)
Peyuan noted the government has been firm in its stand that peaceful and clean elections will be held on May 10, and that they have been successful in doing so. He thus said it is only right for the people responsible for such warnings to issue a public apology.
“Hindi ba, kahit papaano, marapat sanang magbigay ng kahit konting pagbawi sa una nilang akusasyon ang mga pulitikong ito na nagsabing walang mangyayaring eleksyon o iiral ang tinatawag nilang Oplan Rafael," Peyuan said in a press briefing.
(Isn’t it only proper for these politicians, who earlier said that elections won’t happen, or that a so-called Oplan Rafael was being hatched, to retract their accusations?)
In an interview with GMANews.TV, however, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño rejected Peyuan’s demand, saying it is the government itself which created “no election" scenarios following pronouncements from no less than top government officials.
“I don’t think it is necessary to issue a public apology. Our warnings were triggered by (Defense chief Norberto) Gonzales’ warnings about a failure of elections and other actions by government agencies and officials," Casiño said.
He likewise cited the glitches in the counting machines, as well as the increased deployment of soldiers in the elections.
Renato Reyes Jr., convenor of the election watchdog Kontradaya, said in a separate interview that the elections have been successful because people persevered despite numerous problems attendant to the elections on Monday.
“The turnout was high because people were determined to vote despite machine problems, long queues, missing names and other issues. Credit should go to the voting public, and not to the Comelec (Commission on Elections) or the government," Reyes told GMANews.TV.
He said instead of asking for apology from groups who were merely issuing warnings, what the government should do is to further review the automated election system, and hold the Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM, which provided the technology, accountable for the problems with the elections.
Kontradaya is preparing a comprehensive report on the aspects of the automated election system that need improvement, Reyes added.—JV
