The scenario is far-fetched, said Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo, allaying fears that there will be a failure of elections in May.
Likewise, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales assured there would be no failure of elections.
Saludo said the Arroyo government-backed poll automation was itself a proof that there would be no failure of elections, which the opposition believed would pave the way for a holdover presidency.
"Hindi pa naman tayo nagkakaroon sa ating bansa ng failure of elections sa buong panahon ng ating demokrasya mula 1946. At ngayon pa naman na tayo ay merong mas magandang sistema, 'yung automated elections, ay lalong hindi magkakaroon ng failure of elections. Ang pinaka-grabe ngang mangyayari ay 'yung bumalik tayo sa manual counting ng lahat ng boto - 'yun na ang pinaka-masamang mangyayari," Saludo told government-run DzRB. (We have not experienced any failure of elections since our nation achieved its democracy in 1946. And now that we have a good system, automated elections, it is impossible that we will have a failure of elections. The worst thing that would happen is when we go back to manual voting.")
He emphasized that even before, when the Philippines was using the manual counting, there had been no instances that a failure of elections was declared.
"Sa buong panahon po ng ating republika, sa buong panahon na tayo ay nagma-manual counting, hindi nagkaroon ng failure of elections kaya naman walang dahilan para pangambahan 'yun," Saludo added. ("Since we became a republic, in the entire period that we were using the manual counting, a failure of elections never happened that is why there is no reason to be worried about it.")
"The May elections will not fail."
Such was the assurance made by Secretary Gonzales amid reports on possible scenarios in case there would be failure of elections in May.
When asked if he would accept illegal orders, Gonzales replied, "I never think for a moment that our President will issue illegal orders. And I will never do so myself. So there is nothing to fear."
He also reiterated that the military will never be used as an instrument for cheating in the coming elections.
During an interview following his inspection of a set of trainer jets being assembled at Clarkfield, Pampanga, Gonzales confidently told reporters there is no need for the government to make plans or preparations in case a failure of elections occurs, as he emphasized "it will never happen."
"From the way we are sizing the accomplishments of the Comelec, the only thing we see that may possibly happen is there may not be complete poll automation. Meaning it will not be 100 percent, it could probably be 70 or 80 percent, and that's what we are preparing for," said Gonzales.
"But if you will really ask the Comelec they do not see any possibility of failure. And we believe the Comelec. And the armed forces is there to assist the Comelec make sure that indeed, whatever it is they are saying that may happen in the country, the armed forces will be there to assist. So let's not talk about failure," he added.
Gonzales went on to say that the poll body is prepared if ever 30 percent of the total may not be automated because of problems of transmission.
"But let's not talk about failure. It (the elections) will not fail," he reiterated.
On fears that the military will be used to help keep the President in power, Gonzales said, "The officials and officers of the police and the armed forces, I can see their determination to keep our democracy safe. They are really safeguarding the elections."
Ferdinand E. Marcos: Malacanang to Makiki
An exhibition organized by the Museo ng Malacanang Foundation in celebration of the decade of nationalism, 1988-1998: A selection of sculpture by the national ... from the Presidential Fine Arts collection
