Even in times of crisis, democracy must prevail

By Joshua Corcuera

 

According to various news outlets, a member of Philippine Congress asked the Commission on Elections to consider postponing the 2022 general elections recently. His reason is that people, particularly voters, are scared of going out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the pandemic is indeed worrying, there are more important points to ponder. First, the elections are still over a year and a half away from now, the pandemic must have been alleviated through government efforts by then even without a vaccine. Other countries — including our poorer neighbors such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam — managed to get rid of the coronavirus as early as now. Henceforth, it would be humiliating for our country to still suffer come May 2022.

And second, even if the pandemic is still ravaging by that time, people should be much more scared if incompetent leaders remain in power. As we can see, authorities were ill-prepared in dealing with the public health crisis. Even if they are doing their best in combating the coronavirus, the number of cases clearly reflects how devastated our country is. At the same time, the sharp economic recession in our country — given that we had one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world — has left many Filipinos unemployed and impoverished.

Furthermore, there are many possible ways on how to vote assuming that the pandemic is still a major concern in 2022. Take a look at America for instance, wherein their presidential elections would be held on November 3 this year. More people are voting through alternative means such as voting by mail just to make their voices heard. While in South Korea, preventive measures such as temperature checking and physical distancing were enforced April this year when legislative elections were held in their country.

Therefore, there is no reason to suspend the elections even if we are in the middle of a crisis — whether it is a pandemic or a war or whatsoever that significantly affects society. As a matter of fact, a crisis like this must encourage people to go out and vote — while observing protocols to take care of themselves, of course — so that the voice of the masses can be heard in regard to how social issues that matter would be dealt with.

Besides the pandemic and the ensuing economic recession, it is imperative to remind ourselves that there are various pressing social issues in our nation — the shutdown of ABS-CBN, China’s continuous aggression in the West Philippine Sea, environmental concerns, corruption allegations in PhilHealth, and many more. These social issues must also be a reminder for each and every Filipino to exercise their right to vote. After all, voting is the most powerful thing that ordinary people can do for their voices to be heard. Even in times of crisis, people must reach for the ballot. Otherwise, there is something alarming with the society that we are living in.

Clearly, elections can still be held in the middle of the crisis we are living in. There seems to be no reason for people to be extremely worried to the extent that elections would be suspended. For one, it seems like no one is scared of the coronavirus anyway when the nation’s future is at hand. Perhaps, just perhaps, it is those in power who are scared — not the voters. As the maxim goes, kapag gusto, may paraan; kapag ayaw, may dahilan.