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RP's May Polls Reflect Choice for Status Quo

Barring future coups, what is certain is that democracy is alive and kicking in the Philippines

Paul Icamina writes from Manila
IT may be the "sick" man of Southeast Asia economically, but the Philippines has perhaps the healthiest democracy.
in May. eight out of ten voters went to the polls. It was an unprecedented 82 per cent turnout. Twenty-seven million voters trooped to polling places to select among the 87.575 candidates vying for 17,284 positions,- from the president down to town councilors.
It was an election of many firsts, and yet the results show that things remain the same. The political and economic elite dominated the scene, as in the House of Representatives. In the upper house of Congress, the Senate, It is a mix of various lobbies and political persuasions, including a comedian, a popular actor and a basketball star.
But It was the first free elections In two decades. And it produced this mostly Roman Catholic country its first Protestant president. Fidel V. Ramos.
It was the first time an incumbent president was not running for re-election (Pres. Corazon Aquino supported Mr Ramos). And it was the first time that so-called voting blocs and the much vaunted political machineries did not work.
The Liberal Democratic Party with the biggest political machinery did not deliver for Mr Mitra. Mrs Defensor-Santfago who had a small party scored the more impressive votes. Mr Ramos, who won, had a hastily assembled political party.
In the face of a Protestant leadership, the titular head of the Catholics, Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin supported former Speaker Ramon Mitra (he lost and fared
badly). When it looked Mrs Defensor-Santiago was winning in the first few days, he shifted support to her (she lost).
Another church group, the 2.5-million-strong Iglcsia nl Cristo (which is Christian but non-Catholic). Supported Eduardo Cojuangco. a crony of deposed President Marcos. So did Nur Misuari, the head of a Muslim secessionist group. Mr Cojuangco lost.
Conspicuously absent was the American presence. It is said that no Philippine president was cVcr elected without US support.
Gone. too. was the political left. Although there were various groups which supported candidates for their platforms on agrarian reform, the environment and so on. the left did not field any candidates
For sheer plurality, it was most imptessive: seven major political parties each with a Presidential bet and senatorial ne-up. There was a motley of local parties and alliances. AU told. Filipinos could be commended for patiently writing them all down on just over a foot of ballot: president, vice-president. 24 senatorial slots, congressman, governor, mayor, vice-mayor, and councilors.
A few political dynasties were toppled but new ones also sprputed. Vlce-Presl-dcntlal candidate Lite Osmena and his wife who ran for mayor of Cebu City did not win, but the Osmenas remain entrenched In the Senate and local posts.
While Mrs Aquino leaves the presidency, her relatives remain In power. The most prominent are her brother. Jose Cojuangco who was reelected congressman of Tariac province and his wife Tlngtlng who was elected governor of the same province.
Adding colour to the spectacle the Irrepressible Imelda Marcos, flirting around town in a limousine. Hying to the provinces for her presidential campaign. Surprisingly, she fared rather well, overtaking two veteran politicians. Her son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr won his father's old congressional seat in north Philippines.
As usual, there was vote-buying on a local scale. Votes went as high as 1.000 pesos (US$38) for a group of say three persons, or anywhere from 100 to 500 pesos per person. There were even reports of mayors and local wards going for the highest bidders to deliver a town's votes for a congressional or gubernatorial bet.
It was a heyday for gamblers. Crossing party lines, bettors took their pick of candidates most likely to win.
In the end. however, intelligent votes carried the day. If it is any Indication, those elected senators reflected a middle-of-the-road stance: it includes people from the entertainment industry but there arc also men and women who have reputations for doing their homework — and well.
Some senators come from the days of Mr Marcos, but their association with the former dictator will not hinder their work as they are well respected. Senators who voted the American bases otrt were also re-clcctcd. But more senators who voted for the retention of the American bases were re-elected. It will be a Senate very sympathetic to America and free enterprise.
So will the lower house, an
establishment Congress unlikely to rock the boat. If any. it will be strongly averse to land reform. Its membership coming mostly from the landed.
Incredibly, despite all the in-fightlngs and the election speeches, the new set of officials have in common. They will continue to lure foreign Investment and encourage free enterprise, to court international aid and pay the foreign debt.
Which should be good news for Mr Ramos, the new president ? A cousin of the late President Marcos under whom he controlled the national police, he helped topple the Marcos regime in 1986 by joining a military coup. Later he defended the Aquino administration against seven attempted coup d’etats. He Is very much for the status quo.
The son of a career ambassador, Mr Ramos went to West Point Academy in the US. A paratrooper, he served in a Philippine contingent to Vietnam In the 1960s. In the 1970s, he was chief of the Philippine Constabulary, the national police, and arrested many opponents of the martial law regime he enforced for Mr Marcos.
Mrs Aquino has said, that Mr Ramos, who was her minister of defence, has made up for that, role by defending democracy against rightist coups. But on the eve of the national elections, the outspoken Cardinal Sin referred to Mr Ramos as a "non-repentantee.-
Many in the political left still do not trust him. Muslim
secessionists have said Mr Ramos will go for the military solution to the Muslim problem in southern Philippines. Critics say he might be open to an American military presence In the country.
Others fear he might de-
clare martial law. But rightist military rebels have Insisted Mr Ramos Is part of the problems which breed coups.
Barring future coups, what Is certain Is that democracy is alive and kicking in the Philippines. — Depthnews Asia