Election Failure Looms And It Won't Be A Surprise

The specter of election failure is back again. Earlier rumors came out of Malacañang about the possible scenario of failed elections.

Despite assurance from the Arroyo side that they were not pushing for such a scenario it seems, now more than ever, that a high possibility exists that it can happen.

Pacific Strategies and Assessments, an Asia-focused business risk consultancy group that does investigations for a number of multi-national companies as well as governments has come out with a warning of the possibility of failed election in the country, especially with the first time use of an automated system.

Malacañang has tried to play down the suspicions but the fact that Arroyo has had a history of saying one thing and doing another goes against her. That she is power hungry no one has a doubt. That she wants to remain in power despite what she says no one doubts as well.

And the potential of a failed election is one way for her to get her wish.

Of course the Comelec has vehemently denied that failed elections will happen because they say the automated system is fool-proof.

But the failure of some machines to function properly in Hong Kong casts some doubts about that contention.

These machines are all new and have not been tested in the field. Amid the heat, the humidity, the fluctuating electricity, the black outs, the inept personnel, and the ignorant public I ask - will things be alright?

I have my doubts and I would sincerely like to be proven wrong. We couldn't make anything work before, what makes us think we can do it now when there is technology involved.

And the fact that the Comelec is very very adamant that nothing wrong will happen makes me fear that something will happen.

Commission spokesman James Jimenez said Thursday that "total failure of elections is inconceivable."

Stranger things have happened Mr. Jimenez. This is the Philippines we're talking about.

Stranger things will happen.