Cayetano: Let’s focus
on fraud-free automated system
Press Release
April
23, 2012
PASAY CITY – Senate
minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that what is far more
important than forming or joining coalitions at this time is for the
voters and candidates to be assured that the improved automated system
will further deter any attempt by known political operators to tamper
with the results.
He said he is closely
monitoring preparations for the 2013 national elections particularly
the extent of progress in the ensuring that automated elections will
be safe from fraud.
“As long as we have an
automated election that is fair and with no possible intervention by
special operators, whatever coalition one belongs to wouldn’t really
matter,” he said in response to questions about his preferred
political coalition.
“So far, there have
been no indications of this happening and it looks like everything is
proceeding on time,” he added.
The senator also
pointed out that the nature of political campaign in the country has
already drastically changed due to the advent of information
technology and social media – a fact that prospective coalitions and
candidates should seriously consider in their campaigns.
“With so many friends
on Facebook, one can already campaign for himself. President Obama
showed us the way in not only getting support but also in raising
money through the internet. The political parties have to realize that
the campaigns can no longer be run the way it used to be run in the
60s,” he said.
The minority leader
said social media has increased the capacity of politicians to reach
out to their constituents and vice versa.
“Before, the only way
you can participate is through your organized networks and
representatives. But now with Twitter, Facebook, and the online
versions of the major dailies, reaching out has been made so much
easier,” he said.
In this light, he
called on the administration to be mindful of how quickly public
opinion can change even as he expressed the thought that political
leaders should not rush into forming coalitions this early.