Political war is here

By Bebot Villar

PALITAN na ng bright ideas and opinions at batuhan na ng accusations at the political front.

It’s clearly election time na. It’s war for candidates while It’s fiesta time for voters. Maaaliw ka, maaasar ka, mapapa-iyak ka, matatawa ka, iba-ibang klase ng emotion ang lalabas.

Lines have been drawn na. For now, merong Pangasinan Muna movement versus I Love Pangasinan.

Pangasinan Muna is identified with the group of Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza and his running-mate former PNP Chief Art Lomibao, LP’s candidates for governor and vice governor, respectively.

On the other hand, I Love Pangasinan is an advocacy launched by Gov. Amado Espino Jr and Vice Governor Ferdie Calimlim who are both running for re-election.

The Pangasinan Muna is going around the province with its Peace and Development Forum para ipaalaam diumano sa tao reportedly the real situation in Pangasinan. There can be no development if there is no peace and if there is no peace, there is no development. Yan ang bottomline ng kanilang campaign.

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I learned about a small rally ng isang grupong na aligned with Pangasinan Muna that was held during the International Human Rights Day celebration last Monday sa Alcala, ang neighbor town ng Sto. Tomas, my hometown. 

And one of the issues they raised ay itong diumanong 168 unsolved killings na daw sa Pangasinan. Ang dami na nun ah!

Dati, itong number na ito ay kilala na sikat sa negosyo daw, pero ngayon nabigyan ng ibang mukha as a peace and order concern in Pangasinan. Ano ito, killing with impunity? Nakakatakot naman na scenario yan.

If this allegation is correct, this issue may unsettle the I Love Pangasinan group because it would appear na pinabayaan o nagpabaya ba sila kung bakit humantong sa ganito.

Ito namang I Love Pangasinan is also going around the province para ipaalam sa ating provincemates how progress has evolved in Pangasinan from its sorry state when the Espino administration took over at naging multi-awarded in many facets of governance.

I Love Pangasinan brought a deep sense of pride among us daw because our province, particularly the Capitol and its surrounding facilities, have become the object of envy and praise by visitors, dignitaries included, sa ganda nito.

Sabi nila, pwede palang mangyari itong ganitong kaganda na mga structures with available funds from the provincial coffers.

On the other hand again, ang sabi naman ng Pangasinan Muna, while it is true na umasenso in terms of structures and services for the people, ang dapat daw na itanong ay “Gumanda ba ang kabuhayan nila ngayon?”

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These exchanges alone ay sa provincial level lang. Mas grabe na ang palitan sa local level. Kaya It is extremely important na kilatising mabuti ang mga kandidato. Tingnan at pag-aralan ang mga qualifications nila, ang kanilang plataporma, kung totoo ang kanilang nga sinasabi at hindi yong kung magkano ang ibibigay nila.

Hindi dahil kumpare, inaanak, ninong, kamag-anak, kaibigan, ka mahjong ninyo ang isang kandidato ay siya na ang pipiliin nyo.

In the end, we, the voters, are the ultimate judge. Lawakan natin ang pagtimbang kung sino ba ang dapat na iboto . Gamitin natin ng tama ang ating nag-iisang boto.

Kung nasubok nyo na na hanggang lip service lang pala parati ang ugali, kung nagpayaman lang pala, kung good-for-nothing lang pala, kung masahol pa sa Orocan at Tupperware ang tibay ng kaplastikan nila, dapat lang na ibasura na.

Pero kung maganda ang performance, bakit hindi uli bigyan ng chance para maipagpatuloy ang kanyang programa?

Be a wise voter! Huwag magpa-uto!

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