Amid mounting calls for representatives from the international community to act as “foreign observers” in the conduct of May 10 elections, Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidate Raul Lambino Monday asked them not to prejudge the capability of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in handling this year’s first automated polls.

“In fairness to the Comelec, I think it has prepared much and did what it needs to be done for us to have a more peaceful and credible elections compared in the past,” Lambino, a law professor, said.

Lambino explained that the poll body has developed expertise in almost all kinds of election glitches, taking note that it had effectively solved problems, from the simplest one to more serious matters like armed threats, in the past elections.

A known constitutionalist, Lambino issued the statement in the wake of calls from various sectors which asked foreign observers, particularly those from the United States government, to closely monitor the conduct of the May 2010 elections.

It can be recalled that Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican who was then chairman of the US Senate committee on foreign relations, acted as “foreign observer” during the February 1986 snap elections when then re-electionist President Ferdinand Marcos won over candidate Corazon Cojuangco Aquino.

Lugar declared that there was “massive cheating” amid the brewing street protests against Marcos in many parts of the country that later led to his ouster following the EDSA People Power Revolution. The US government pressured Marcos to vacate Malacañang that led to the installation of Mrs. Aquino as the country’s president.

He said that foreign observers should rethink their assessment on Comelec, since their criticism may end up as a slap on their face once their poll officials experience how it is like to handle elections the Filipino way.