A Call for Credible Elections

12 May 2007 -- On Monday, 14 May 2007, Filipino voters will cast their ballots to elect new leaders or to re-elect deserving incumbent ones. This election is important for our democratic society, just as every election in the past has been, as it is the exercise of the sovereign will of the governed, granting a mandate to their governors. But perhaps this election assumes even greater critical importance because of the perceived distrust with or indifference among our people towards this most valuable of our democratic processes.

We, representatives of the business sector, believe that a credible election is a fundamental and critical step toward ensuring that this frame of mind does not become prevalent enough to undermine our people’s faith in democracy, and toward uniting the country so that development may proceed more rapidly. Our country's poverty may actually be reduced if the present growth momentum is sustained by an electoral process that Filipinos believe is fair and produces credible leaders behind whom the people can unite.

Toward this end, we call on the leaders of the contending political parties, their affiliated organizations, their followers and sympathizers throughout the country, and most especially the candidates themselves, to do everything in their power to ensure clean and credible elections. Even more than the results of the elections, it is their conduct and credibility that will determine if our country can finally achieve unity and move forward.

We call on the military establishment to observe the spirit and letter of the agreement the Department of Defense signed with the COMELEC in October 2006 that seeks to insulate the military from partisan politics, with the COMELEC agreeing to deputize the military units only in high-threat areas. We call on the COMELEC to conduct their constitutional duties and responsibilities in the highest levels of transparency, fairness, and good governance.

We call on all freedom-loving citizens to be vigilant in protecting your votes against possible fraud. Watch the counting and report anomalies to responsible authorities. You may act as private individuals, but you may be more effective by joining volunteer groups that have organized for this purpose, like the National Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or similar organizations.

We pray that this election will be peaceful, clean, and above all, credible.

GORDON ALAN JOSEPH (President)
Cebu Business Club (CBC)

SERGIO R. ORTIZ-LUIS JR. (President)
Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)

JOHN K. TAN (President)
Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII)

JESUS L. ARRANZA (President)
Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc. (FPI)

ABELARDO V. CORTEZ (President)
Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX)

RAMON R. DEL ROSARIO JR. (Chairman)
Makati Business Club (MBC)

ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO (President)
Management Association of the Philippines (MAP)

SAMIE LIM (President)
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)

SERGIO R. ORTIZ-LUIS JR. (President)
Philippine Export Development Council (PHILEXPORT)

ALEGRIA S. LIMJOCO (Chairman)
Philippine Franchise Association (PFA)

MIGUEL B. VARELA (President)
Philippines, Inc.

MARS M. CHUA (President)
Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)