The Actor vs. the Millionaire

Monday’s presidential election in the Philippines pits a popular former actor against the ruling party’s millionaire candidate, who trails badly in the polls but insists he can make up ground over the weekend. That claim in most other elections might be laughed off, but the Philippines’ long history of vote tampering has raised doubts of a clean election.

Leading in the polls is Vice President Joseph Estrada, a populist and college dropout best known for his movie roles as tough good guys. The flamboyant 61-year-old sports an Elvis Presley hairdo and claims his womanizing, gambling and hard-drinking ways are behind him.

Estrada’s main opponent is House Speaker Jose de Venecia, a journalist turned rich businessman. He is supported by President Fidel V. Ramos, who made no secret of his distaste for Estrada in his six years in the presidency. Ramos, a popular general and a key figure in the 1986 People Power revolution that drove Ferdinand E. Marcos from the Philippines, has not spoken to his vice president in months and suggested that the Philippine media conduct a “demolition” campaign against him.

What makes Philippine elections so vulnerable to cheating are the old-fashioned hand counts and extended delivery times, as ballot boxes are carried from the country’s 7,000 islands to Manila. Congress officially announces the winner several weeks after the election. This year even the respected Roman Catholic Cardinal Jaime Sin believes that Estrada will win unless he is derailed by vote rigging.

Under Ramos, the Philippines has made significant economic progress and firmed up democratic institutions. An unblemished election this year would add to that record. And if Filipinos want Estrada to lead their country, they would not be the first voters to put the national reins in the hands of an actor.