The Commission on Elections is placed in the thick of controversy once again with the recent ruling of the Ombudsman clearing the criminal and administrative charges against all the Comelec officials involved in the controversial P1.3 billion poll automation contract with Mega Pacific eSolutions in 2003.  This was a complete turnaround from the Ombudsman's earlier resolution recommending the filing of graft and administrative charges against Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra as well as five members of the bids and awards committee.

Even the Supreme Court is being dragged into the fray because it nullified the contract in 2004 citing irregularities, saying the Comelec violated its own rules on bidding.  Several groups are understandably furious and suspicious, with some newspapers even crying "cover-up."  Malacañang has distanced itself from the controversy but unfortunately, nobody really believes it had nothing to do with the Ombudsman's reversal.

So far, GMA has been lucky to survive despite controversies that have been hounding her presidency since last year particularly the "Hello Garci" issue.  Her nationally televised "I am sorry" speech in June last year gave anti-GMA groups renewed motivation to call for her ouster, as her statement virtually opened a can of worms and left more questions than answers.

Then there was the P728-million fertilizer fund scandal involving former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, suspected of being the architect behind the scandal.  GMA's sharp survival instincts, however, made her conduct "pre-emptive strikes" to foil the "unholy alliance" between the left, right and center to topple her from her presidency, the most serious of which was the Feb. 24 plot hatched by rogue military elements in connivance with some civilians.

But this recent Comelec imbroglio could create another crisis if this is not resolved swiftly and convincingly.  We cannot afford another protracted political crisis like what the country went through last year, because this would certainly set back whatever economic gains we are beginning to experience.  There's been a slight drop in the oil prices, and the peso's performance continues to be impressive, managing to breach the P49—$1 level.

Even the World Bank had seen fit to give the country a $410 million health and education loan package—the biggest for the country since the last 10 years—something that would not have been possible if the WB didn't believe in the administration's economic reforms.  In fact, there's an expected resurgence of foreign investments and all indications point to the possibility that our economy will prosper in the next few years.

Remittances from OFWs are consistently going up and are expected to reach $11.87 billion this year, 11 percent more than last year's $10.7 billion—and that's only through official remittance channels.  Recent reports also placed the per capita income to hit $1,463 by the end of the year, surpassing $1,040 in 2000 and $1,200 two years ago.  The figure is said to be the best level for the country so far, even higher than during the term of Fidel Ramos.

We would certainly have another political crisis if the 2007 elections are not held, but it would be even worse if the elections were held but not perceived to be credible.  How that can be accomplished is the big question right now, given the controversies hounding the Comelec.  Needless to say, if surefire winners like re-electionist Senator Ed Angara and former senator Loren Legarda—top senatorial contenders—were to lose in the 2007 elections, then that would really put an even bigger dent on the beleaguered poll body's already record low credibility.

Since time immemorial, election results have always been hotly disputed in this country—from Quirino to Magsaysay, Macapagal, Marcos—with losers claiming they were cheated out of victory.  In this modern age of technology and electronic gadgetry, I simply cannot understand how all these years, the Comelec has had no foresight in solving this pervasive age-old dilemma of vote counting that would be credible in the eyes of the world.  And when they do something, it's tainted by controversy and allegations of shady deals and anomalies after which they go on a mad scramble to undo the crisis.

But then again, this is not surprising given the Filipino penchant to frantically react only after a major disaster had occurred.  Just take a look at the aftermath of Milenyo.  Judging from the reactions and the number of emails I received on the issue I wrote about billboards last week, it's very clear the majority of people want the billboards completely out.  I could virtually hear their shouts ringing in my ears: "Mrs. Arroyo, tear down these billboards!"—a take on Ronald Reagan's speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987, when he said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

A year ago, the Outdoor Advertisers Association of the Philippines (OAAP) asked to meet with me to seek my advice.  I urged them to take the bull by the horns, go on the offensive and work with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Senator Miriam Santiago to push for a law that would effectively regulate the industry, with them as the central clearing house.  I remember telling them, "The writing is on the wall."  But I guess in their case, "the writing is on the billboard."

But the important thing is, when all is said and done and all the hysteria has died down, all parties should sit down and make some sense out of this whole issue.  There's no question there should only be one regulating body instead of several local governments issuing permits.  At the end of the day, as one taxi driver told me, "Buhay na ng tao ito."

This is a typhoon-prone country and it seems we are a magnet for natural disasters.  But past experiences prove it's the "man-made" disasters that cause more devastating damage to the country.  Given the current circumstances, it is obvious that GMA can continue to ride out her term successfully if the 2007 election is perceived to be credible.

True, hindsight should have taught us lessons from natural disasters brought on by Mt. Pinatubo, Caloy, Milenyo, and even disgraceful transactions like the Amari Bulgari and the Piatco fiasco.  But this country is now in a potential situation where mere allegations of cheating, vote rigging and manipulation can again cause so much political chaos and instability.

Government would do well to be forward looking, and to carefully consider all the possible consequences if the current Comelec controversy is not resolved satisfactorily and convincingly.  As Sherlock Holmes would say, "It's elementary, my dear Watson: Foresight."

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