IN democratic countries across the globe, including impoverished Philippines, sovereignty resides in the people.

In fact, the sovereign Filipino people, through the electorate, regularly elect those who will govern the country.

In this Southeast Asian nation of more than 120 million people, the registered voters go to the polls every three years.

The President, Vice President and senators serve for six years, while local government officials have a three-year term of office.

That’s why the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a Constitutional body, is duty bound to ensure the conduct of free, honest and credible polls.

“Kailangan talagang maging kapani-paniwala ang resulta ng lahat ng halalan sa bansa,” a political observer said.

“If the poll body and its deputies, like the police and the military, fail to ensure the holding of honest elections, then the country faces instability,” according to a public school teacher.

But the Comelec, chaired by George Erwin Garcia, is doing a great job in coming up with measures aimed at ensuring the holding of credible elections on May 12.

And with the help of the public, the poll body is seen to succeed in thwarting attempts to frustrate the will of the electorate.

Let’s then support the Comelec if we are to speed up the country’s socio-economic development at this time of economic difficulties.

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