I sure hope Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales' reaction to Senator Noynoy Aquino's "crazy, crazy, crazy" call for another People Power was enough to clear our heads of any adventurist notions. At the very least the Cardinal's dismissal of Aquino's idea should open our eyes to the fact that, no matter how romantic it may seem, People Power is not the solution to each and every little thing that ails our country.

The Cardinal said it clearly:

(excerpt from www.cbcpnews.com)

Although not making a direct statement to any politician, Cardinal Rosales said anyone who brings up such an idea is irresponsible.

“Whoever said that, I have never heard him (Aquino), but any kind of thinking, that is irresponsible thinking,” Rosales told reporters.

“For heaven’s sake, there is the Constitution, all these are covered by provisions of Constitution. If there are complaints, you go to the Comelec (Commission on Elections), in Congress because you still have that.”

“The laws are not done on the streets. That (People Power 1) was only an extraordinary situation for almost 20 years so you don’t do that again. That’s why we have the laws now,” he said.

Related to this, it appears certain sectors are really out to make a mess of the country's first ever automated elections. The Commission on Eelections has bared a plot to disenfranchise voters.

(report from www.journal.com)

Plot to disenfranchise voters bared
by Jess V. Antiporda
Monday, 03 May 2010 19:40
THE Commission on Elections yesterday confirmed that there are plans to delay or prevent voters from casting their votes on election day.

“What’s happening (is that) some individuals will purposely delay the voting in some areas to prevent voters from voting,” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said. He said the plans will entail disrupting the voting process to delay, prevent, or discourage voters from taking part in the elections.

“We cannot give you names... we have to be very careful… who are and who are not involved,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

He said the information came from credible sources.

“We evaluated some of them and we’ve found them credible,” he said.

Jimenez hinted that the plans could be part of some candidates’ political strategy to prevent their opponents’ supporters from voting.

“This is what we are looking at. (But) you can only shut out the supporters for a short period of time,” he said. He added that another possible motive behind the move is to discredit the poll body and the conduct of elections itself so the results of the automated polls can be challenged easily.

Larrazabal said they have already instructed their board of election inspectors to “take appropriate action” in case voting proceedings are disrupted on election day.

It's obvious to me that this is one situation where a more sober and thinking People Power movement can be put to good use. Perhaps, those of us who are so inclined can help out by keeping watch over the whole process. If at all possible keep an eye out for suspicious activities such as attempts to slow down the voting procedure.

Instead of lingering on the seeds of negativity planted by Aquino and his cohorts, let's all focus on making sure the automated election will be a big success and by that I mean that it would be carried out in an honest, orderly and peaceful manner.