Comelec execs: Let’s learn from ‘maturity’ of US election

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – After President Barack Obama won his second term at the White House Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), two officials from the Commission on Elections said the Philippines could learn a few lessons from the “maturity” of the US elections.

Comelec Chief Sixto Brillantes Jr, in an interview with reporters, said that the act of “conceding” to opponents during elections was one that the politicians in the country should emulate.

“I hope losing Filipino candidates will learn to concede. That’s one thing we should study. Here many politicians don’t want to concede. We are still fighting even if the elections ended three years ago,” Brillantes said.

Obama was swept to re-election Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), winning a second four-year term at the White-House after defeating Republican foe Mitt Romney.

US reports said Romney conceded in the US election early Wednesday, and told his supporters that he had called Obama to congratulate him on his victory.

Brillantes also described the practice of elections in the country as lucrative, and decried how the processes were very tedious in resolving election related cases.

He also noted how Filipinos make a big fuss over the elections as compared to Americans.

“Yung maturity ng tao, yung kanilang disiplina sa sarili nila. Simple lang, walang gulo. Parang walang nangyayari. Dito pag elections it’s more fun in the Philippines,” he said in jest. He added that it may take a long time before the Philippines “gets to that maturity stage.”

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, for his part, noted how politicians and candidates running for posts in America discuss and debate on issues like the economy and foreign policy.

“It will be good for us to practice how they discussed issues instead of personalities,” Sarmiento said. He added that the country could also learn how local citizens in America, especially in the grassroots level, were seriously involved in campaigns and in “egging those who are not voting to vote.”

Sarmiento particularly emphasized how the US had very strict campaign finance rules, saying that the country should professionalize the department for it to focus solely on campaign all year round.
“Finally, one lesson we can learn from them, hindi rin perfect ang elections nila. There are also complaints raised by some of the candidates and voters. So walang perfect elections,” he added.