Cecile Alvarez and I had a fruitful “Paaralang bayan” with Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento last Sunday at 8 p.m. over dzRH (the second part will be aired this Sunday). We spent much of the first part of the radio program on the P11.3-billion full automation of the 2010 elections as we felt this is uncharted territory and he could clarify many things. He noted that the voters, of which there were 48 million in the 2007 elections, would rather hold a paper ballot than punch buttons on the machines and so they will shade the little box opposite their candidates’ names, a process similar to the one used in various exams given by the Civil Service Commission. The votes, dropped into transparent boxes in the precincts, will be tabulated by the counting machines, then transmitted to the municipal and provincial boards (in 30 copies to be furnished to each and every political group, etc.). At this point, the local winners can be proclaimed, thus lessening political tensions considerably. Then all results are transmitted electronically to Comelec headquarters.

Sarmiento noted that in the automated elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2008, the results were known within 48 hours. He expressed confidence that by May 30 the bidding process handled by the special bids and awards committee, assisted by an advisory council, will be finished.

In the automated system, the country’s 250,000 precincts will be regrouped into 80,000 clusters. I asked if there would be at least 80,000 computer-literate people to man them. He said yes, adding that Comelec is working with various citizens’ groups such as the Management Association of the Philippines.

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We talked about the bill filed by Representatives Pedro Romualdo and Rufus Rodriguez proposing advance elections in the ARMM to preclude cheating there. Sarmiento pointed out that one-third of voters in the recent US presidential elections voted in advance. He also noted that tiny Bhutan, with its half a million voters, has shifted to full automation, while India, with its 740 million voters, completed automated parliamentary voting within a month, dividing the huge subcontinent in four parts, and designing and using battery-operated election machines (a good idea, given the brown-outs we are experiencing).

At the moment, the Comelec is cleansing the voters’ list, with some 3.2 million names already purged, including 200,000 deceased voters and those who were “deactivated” after failing to vote in two consecutive elections. Sarmiento called on the estimated two million first-time voters as well as those deactivated to register with their Comelec officers in their city or municipal halls or satellite registration centers, on or before the Oct. 31 deadline (for overseas voters, the deadline is Aug. 31). I suggested that the Comelec set up information desks in municipal or city halls to provide new voters information on the requirements for registration.

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Vice President Noli de Castro recently raised the possibility that former President Joseph Estrada would file his certificate of candidacy for president in 2010, only to be replaced by his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, should the Supreme Court disqualify him at the last minute. What would happen, De Castro said, is that votes would be counted for Jinggoy since official ballots would have been printed by then. One can recall Sen. Magnolia Antonino stepping in after her reelectionist husband, Sen. Gaudencio Antonio, died in a helicopter accident. Kalinga’s Gov. Floydelia Diasen decided to run after her husband was slain. But in the case of Estrada, should the SC disqualify him, I’m sure the Comelec can quickly print new ballots (one reason the filing of candidacies was moved to Nov. 30 this time). A problem could arise, however, if a qualified Estrada later steps down, say, for health reasons, and allows his son to run in his place. It’s sensible to revisit the law allowing substitution.

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Philippine Star columnist Dick Pascual made a valid point when he argued that former Senate finance committee chair and now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile had endorsed the “double insertion” made by Senate President Manuel Villar and the entire Senate had approved it. “Was the insertion proper?” asked Pascual. “It must be assumed to be, otherwise Enrile and his then finance committee would not have endorsed it to the plenary.” He termed as “dangerous ground” the argument of Villar’s critics that he’s guilty of conflict of interest since the C-5 Road extension passes through his family’s land development projects, noting that everyone in Congress works for his or her area’s development through budget insertions. I agree that it’s quite clear that Villar’s rivals are out to crucify him because he’s ahead in the presidential polls and his political organization is in place.

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Snipped off for lack of space last Tuesday was Kalayaan College’s new, more accessible location at 22 Manga Road corner Aurora Boulevard, New Manila, in Quezon City. After eight years of fighting the odds, this private institution founded by idealistic former University of the Philippines professors, led by former UP president Dr. Jose V. Abueva, now has its own brand-new, four-story building. I’ve been plugging Kalayaan College as it is a good alternative to a UP education and I realize how tough it is to get started sans government help. For more details about school year 2009, call 0917-898-1724.

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Don’t miss the Philippine Opera Company’s three-day repeat performances of “Harana, A Cultural Journey.” The gala night is on Thursday, May 28, at 8 p.m., and subsequent shows will be on May 29 and 30 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. The fully-choreographed “Harana” features eight of our most celebrated classical and musical artists as they sing (and dance to) best-loved Filipino songs and regional favorites. Tickets at P1,200, P1,000 and P500. Call 892-8786, or e-mail: phil_opera_co@yahoo.com.ph.