The Latin maxim “vox populi, vox Dei” is probably the most used and abused phrase in the world since Roman times. But that doesn’t mean it has become less valid; in fact, it has become more so as new democracies have formed in the wake of the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the wave of republicanism still sweeping the globe.
Jose P. Laurel — former President, Senator and Supreme Court Justice, one of those rara avis who served in all three branches of government, and a most underrated Filipino political philosopher — said it very well in his book “Bread and Freedom” that “(p)opular government means, in substance, a representative type of government that is controlled by the people, one in which the powers of government are exercised with their mandate.”
He then distills this concept into four words: “representation, renovation, and popular control.” These principles, of course, are reflected in the Constitution where it says in succinct yet pithy language that “sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them.”
Thus, the body in charge of safeguarding the popular will, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), has been elevated into a constitutional body: immutable, independent, isolated from extraneous influences. Notwithstanding its exalted status in the Charter, however, its function is to accurately declare the people’s voice, not supplant it with its own.
I have always said it was a bad idea for the President to have appointed his own election lawyer as Comelec chair. With the postulates of fealty, favorable advocacy and privilege inherent in a lawyer-client relationship, everything that the Comelec will do that appears to be in favor of Marcos’ administration will be under a cloud of great doubt. Especially if it looks like it isn’t cricket.
Which is what is exactly happening now. The cancellation of the certificate of registration of the Duterte Youth Partylist — which garnered the second highest number of votes — and of the winning candidacy of Joel Uy for Manila congressman, which favored staunch Palace ally Benny Abante, have resulted in an uproar that has cast serious doubts on the impartiality of Garcia and his fellow Marcos appointees.
In light of Duterte Youth’s revelation that the disqualification of their three winning nominees was for the benefit of partytlists in bed with the administration, the concerns are quite serious.
The perception is exacerbated when the extremely obvious disqualification of other Marcos bets such as Janice Degamo, whose candidacy is facing serious challenge, remain unacted upon. The voters are beginning to see the double standard of the Comelec, and sense with trepidation how Garcia and his ilk may pervert the 2028 elections to twist the true results.
This is a powder keg. If the people lose faith in elections, they may take matters into their own hands. It has happened twice before, albeit peacefully. It may not be so the next time. The sovereign Filipino people may not take too kindly to their voice again being voided.