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1988 Philippine local elections
Elections for a new set of provincial and local city and municipal officials were held in the Philippines on January 18, 1988 under the new Constitution of the Philippines which was ratified in 1987.
The local elections of January 18, 1988, were the third nationwide electoral exercise held under the presidency of Corazon Aquino. In February 1987, a new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite. In May, an election for a new congress was held, which was dominated by allies of the president. Barangay elections were held in 1989. On the other hand, these were also the first since 1980, the only such elections during the nationwide martial law under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.
After Marcos was ousted in the 1986 People Power Revolution, public offices were subjected to the reforms under the "Freedom Constitution" in the Aquino administration's effort to weaken the political machine of Marcos' political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and his allies in the country. A two-year political process began with Proclamation No. 3, issued by Aquino on March 25 which, among other orders, effectively abolishing all elective positions nationwide; all elected local government officials were removed, particularly (or most of) those affiliated either with the Marcoses or with the KBL. The Ministry of Local Government, through an executive order, later appointed Officers-in-Charge to take over local government offices. This caused yet little opposition, mainly by vice president Salvador Laurel, and confusion among these units. Moreover, the local government's failure to deliver goods and services only resulted to the continued communist insurgency.
Meanwhile, local elections were originally set in May but were delayed twice, first for a year pending the constitutional plebiscite. Aquino said that the elections would "complete the cycle" of restoration of democracy in the country.
The 45-day campaign period started on December 1, 1987. Between 150,000 and 160,000 candidates sought for 15,946 local positions, which included 73 provincial governors and 1,564 city and town mayors. Continued rivalry and popularity were much observed, rather than issues to be raised.
The administration's "people power" coalition, in an effort to control over regions controlled either by the radical left or right, had political alliances with candidates philosophically opposed to the president. It was observed that politicians, belonged to many former Marcos kingpins and some right-wing warlords with loyalty issues and mostly removed by Aquino, were among those endorsed either by the administration or by one of its coalition's parties, over candidates who had been pro-Aquino. Such decision subjected the president to criticism; and was charged by critics as simply returning to the pre-martial law local dynastic politics. On the other hand, the family backed some new candidates in several regions. As a result, almost all candidates claimed themselves pro-Aquino, while some of the president's critics ran as independents. Aquino personally endorsed only few candidates and limited her campaigning mainly to Metro Manila. Various political parties openly supported candidates, either independents or from another party.
President Aquino appealed for an end to the violence and for "peaceful and honest elections." Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin and the Makati Business Club joined such calls. On the other hand, Vice President Laurel called for a postponement of elections in areas with strong influence by the communist rebels.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) declared more than a third of 103,000 precincts "hot spots;" same declaration by the military on at least 930 areas where violence is possible. The COMELEC took over direct supervision of the polls in 30 identified areas; and postponed the elections in eleven of the 73 provinces until February 15 due to security reasons to give way for the implementation of special measures against fraud and violence. Election officials placed cadets, college students in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and local officers of Jaycees as official poll monitors.
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1988 Philippine local elections
Elections for a new set of provincial and local city and municipal officials were held in the Philippines on January 18, 1988 under the new Constitution of the Philippines which was ratified in 1987.
The local elections of January 18, 1988, were the third nationwide electoral exercise held under the presidency of Corazon Aquino. In February 1987, a new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite. In May, an election for a new congress was held, which was dominated by allies of the president. Barangay elections were held in 1989. On the other hand, these were also the first since 1980, the only such elections during the nationwide martial law under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.
After Marcos was ousted in the 1986 People Power Revolution, public offices were subjected to the reforms under the "Freedom Constitution" in the Aquino administration's effort to weaken the political machine of Marcos' political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and his allies in the country. A two-year political process began with Proclamation No. 3, issued by Aquino on March 25 which, among other orders, effectively abolishing all elective positions nationwide; all elected local government officials were removed, particularly (or most of) those affiliated either with the Marcoses or with the KBL. The Ministry of Local Government, through an executive order, later appointed Officers-in-Charge to take over local government offices. This caused yet little opposition, mainly by vice president Salvador Laurel, and confusion among these units. Moreover, the local government's failure to deliver goods and services only resulted to the continued communist insurgency.
Meanwhile, local elections were originally set in May but were delayed twice, first for a year pending the constitutional plebiscite. Aquino said that the elections would "complete the cycle" of restoration of democracy in the country.
The 45-day campaign period started on December 1, 1987. Between 150,000 and 160,000 candidates sought for 15,946 local positions, which included 73 provincial governors and 1,564 city and town mayors. Continued rivalry and popularity were much observed, rather than issues to be raised.
The administration's "people power" coalition, in an effort to control over regions controlled either by the radical left or right, had political alliances with candidates philosophically opposed to the president. It was observed that politicians, belonged to many former Marcos kingpins and some right-wing warlords with loyalty issues and mostly removed by Aquino, were among those endorsed either by the administration or by one of its coalition's parties, over candidates who had been pro-Aquino. Such decision subjected the president to criticism; and was charged by critics as simply returning to the pre-martial law local dynastic politics. On the other hand, the family backed some new candidates in several regions. As a result, almost all candidates claimed themselves pro-Aquino, while some of the president's critics ran as independents. Aquino personally endorsed only few candidates and limited her campaigning mainly to Metro Manila. Various political parties openly supported candidates, either independents or from another party.
President Aquino appealed for an end to the violence and for "peaceful and honest elections." Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin and the Makati Business Club joined such calls. On the other hand, Vice President Laurel called for a postponement of elections in areas with strong influence by the communist rebels.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) declared more than a third of 103,000 precincts "hot spots;" same declaration by the military on at least 930 areas where violence is possible. The COMELEC took over direct supervision of the polls in 30 identified areas; and postponed the elections in eleven of the 73 provinces until February 15 due to security reasons to give way for the implementation of special measures against fraud and violence. Election officials placed cadets, college students in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and local officers of Jaycees as official poll monitors.