Arrogance of power

THE reported blatant attempt of Asingan acting-Mayor Joshua Viray to hide the evidence of his highly questionable and irregular interference in the activities of the Sangguniang Kabataan in his town is contemptible, to say the least.

While Mr. Viray has vehemently denied the allegation, the police report says otherwise. Nonetheless, the reported display of arrogance, while not surprising because it has become the norm for many of our local elected officials, should not be allowed to pass without any sanction.

But his case is not uncommon. In fact, mayors are not even coy about “operating” to manipulate the results of election of presidents of both the barangay and SK federations with vote-buying to ensure that the winners become part of the majority in their respective local town/city sanggunian.

We, therefore, salute P/Chief Inspector Demosthenes Magnaan, police chief, for considering to file a case against the mayor for obstructing justice if he doesn’t surrender his armed bodyguard who confronted one SK barangay chairman over a failed vote-buying scheme in the election of SK federation officials. (We can only wonder what the mayor is doing or has done in the case of the election of the Liga ng Barangay).

Unless checked by the citizenry and media, this display of arrogance of power seen in our towns and cities today, there will be no end to vote-buying in our barangay and SK elections as well.

 

Pathetic Atom

CITIZEN Jake is a Filipino film about murder and prostitution involving a crooked politician, with unsavory flashbacks indicting the unlamented Marcos years.  Recently, the film’s fate took a bizarre turn when its director Mike de Leon and lead actor Atom Araullo traded barbs on social media.  De Leon, a celebrated megman (Kisapmata, Batch 81, Sister Stela L), called Araullo “unprofessional.” “hypocritical” and “narcissistic.” Araullo, appearing in his film debut, countered: “De Leon is a troubled person who needs help in fighting his personal demons.”

For sure, no gimmickry was involved here to promote the film.  Their rants are as genuine as President Duterte’s hatred for illegal drugs and corruption.  But why Araullo, 35, had to clash head-on against a man—a legend at that—almost twice his age is way out of line.  De Leon gave him his movie break.  If only for that, Araullo should have shut his mouth.  Pathetic.

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