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individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which
modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. Elections may fill
offices in the legislature, executive , and for regional and local government.
The Philippines has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one
party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other
to form a coalition government. The Commission on Elections(COMELEC) is responsible
for running the elections.
Under the Constitution, elections for the members of Congress and local positions
(except barangay officials) occur every second Monday of May every third year after May
1992, and presidential and vice presidential elections occur every second Monday of May
every sixth year after May 1992. All elected officials, except those at the barangay level,
start (and end) their terms of office on June 30 of the election year.
Indeed, election is one of the vital rights conferred upon on every Filipino citizen.
It enable them to exercise their right to suffrage granted by the 1987 Philippine
Constitution. Each can has the freedom to select their own representatives whom they
think can best serve the public interest. Unfortunately, in reality, the sanctity of the election
is sometimes taken for granted. When the exercise of this sacred right is rendered futile
at the expense of those wicked citizens who are more concern of their private interest
that that of the public. Verily, corruption this time is rampant. Likewise, vote buying is also
practice. When the choices made by the citizens are no longer reflected but results were
already manipulated by interests of some group through capricious whims.
But, things are not yet doomed. Change can still happen. The sanctity of the
election in the Philippines may still be respected. In fact it is just a matter of holding to the
that right with conviction where Filipino voters will not be wavered by any means not in
violation with the sanctity of execising the right to suffrage.