Punchline
Recall the shotguns
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
With the incidence of political violence here expected to rise in the months ahead, I will not be surprised if one of the shotguns issued to the barangay kapitans in the province by his administration will be involved or be used by bodyguards of politicians to kill, maim or intimidate opposing candidates and supporters.
For Guv Spines’ own sake, and before he gets needlessly enmeshed in a political violent scandal he can ill afford and cannot explain or justify as he seeks his second term, it would be prudent for him to recall all the shotguns by January for the PNP ‘s safekeeping. With the Comelec gun ban in place for the duration of the campaign, he has all the reason to recall them.
By doing so, he will not only effectively remove one potential contentious issue that his adversary can go to town with during the campaign but he will be protecting the kapitans from possible incarceration for using or allowing the use of the shotguns by trigger-happy kagawads or bodyguards of politicians.
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The chances of Guv Spines being drawn into a messy situation involving the kapitans and the misuse of the shotguns is 10 out of 10! Those shotguns were issued by him, not by the mayors or the police so these are solely his responsibility, no ifs and buts about it. Worse, no amount of justification or defense by the erring kapitans for their illegal use will exculpate him because the shotguns were issued indiscriminately to all kapitans without requiring the latter to apply for individual licenses to possess and carry firearms. A license requires the applicant to prove mental worthiness to possess and carry a firearm.
And what are the chances of the shotguns being used for political terrorism? I say 8 out of 10 considering that our armed barangay kapitans are among the thousands of egoistic hotheads in the political arena, and their guns usually do the thinking when provoked.
So be forewarned, Guv Spines. It only takes one pea-brained macho kapitan to upset your campaign. Better be sure than sorry!
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TO SMOKE OR NOT TO SMOKE. That malicious text announcing the ‘death’ of Dagupan Mayor Al Fernandez was obviously politically motivated of the worst kind. It is that which karma addresses and returns its consequences to its perpetrators threefold.
However, there is a vital lesson to be learned. While this cruel squid tactic may have been promptly proven a hoax, it nonetheless created some panic and confusion in the early hours. Mayor Al’s camp must, therefore be prepared for another assault of this nature on election day when the confusion created can cause more irreparable damage to him!
Some city hall observers agree that perhaps until he cuts down on his chain-smoking habit, his state of health will always be the subject of wild speculations and ill wishes by those who will be served by his sudden incapacitation. On the other hand, the ‘never-say-die’ smokers tell me that it’s more stressful for a ‘senior’ chain smoker to cut down on the habit and the effect can be more debilitating. Best to keep the habit, stay happy and be productive!
In this case, I’ll have to concede that the ‘senior’ smokers know better. They are alive and happy, aren’t they? One pack is on me, Mayor Al! Name the brand!
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NOT POLITICAL DYNASTIES, JUST FAMILY AFFAIRS. Today’s generation that never experienced the essence of public service, as it was known in the 50s and 60s, is hardly appalled on hearing about a husband and wife team, parent-child tandem, or members of family running for every available post in the community, from posts in the sangguian kabataan to the provincial, city/municipal government.
If we go by the track records of many political families, it would appear that our communities have already learned to accept members of a political clan as natural and logical candidates, and are even expected to make a bid each time. In fact, note that speculations ands rumors are rife every year on who among members of the political family would likely run for which post in future elections. Nobody but a political detractor (and a journalist) sees anything obscene about a political clan lording it over the province, district town or city for decades.
So while the national media constantly bewails the unabated intrusion of political dynasties in our system, nobody even talks about the “evils” of political dynasty in the countryside. With the exception of a handful (no more than 10 in the country), most if not all candidates who make political dynasty a campaign issue lose in the polls. To my recollection, only Among Panlilio (Pampanga) and Grace Padaca (Isabela) have succeeded and made an impact in their monumental battles against old and entrenched political families, and yet today they find themselves being eased out by our system that welcomes and encourages dynasties.
Ironic it may be but the truth is, our family culture provides the perfect environment for political dynasties. We expect families (and their extended families) to support each other, and we are entertained when families get into a feud against another, or within the clan itself. Family affairs of political clans are fodder for gossip. A rumored or public clash between prominent political families are viewed as entertainment, a sporting event, like it were title fights in a boxing or a cockfight. Evil? Immoral? Perish the thought. We love political dynasties.
Evil is only associated with political families who kill, i.e, the Ampatuans, etc., but never with the culture of political dynasties per se.
But why does the new entry of one politician almost always end up creating a political dynasty? Simple. Money is a necessary major component (which is not necessarily evil) in politics; and where money is a major factor, it translates to business and investment. So what starts as a small business (first term) in politics, ends up a business venture (succeeding terms in a post that yields hefty dividends and profits, i.e., jueteng, kickbacks, overpricing of projects, etc.) that looks at returns on investment (costs of political maintenance to keep the organization oiled 24/7).
So if you see a new face in the political front, chances are you are looking at the future head of a new political dynasty in the making.
