Learning our political lessons

By Bebot Villar

 

WHO was it who said: ‘The people elect the government they deserve!”? Nothing can be further from the truth.

It is our vote that decided our fate as a nation kaya kailangan pahalagahan natin ang isusulat natin sa ating mga balota. We decide hindi yong mga kandidato na bumibili ng boto natin. Kaya huwag tayo magpapadala sa mga kandidatong galante kuno.

We have a 3-year term for elected officials yet we keep on committing the same mistakes with many of our non-performing officials whether mayor, councilor or barangay chairman. We must begin to stop viewing elections as a contest on who spends the most between or among candidates.

Isasakripisyo ba natin ang susunod na tatlong taon ng buhay natin ulit para sa iilang libong piso na ipambibili ng boto nyo? To those who insist that vote-buying is an opportunity to be exploited, wala na kayong karapatang magreklamo sa mga lider na iniluklok nyo dahil bayad na kayo. Sabi nga, sa isang nanalo sa mga nag-complain sa services: “Binayaran ko naman kayo, so hwag na kayong mag-complain!”

Marami sa mga candidates ngayon ay nagsasabing: “Kailangan ng pagbabago,” “Time for Change!”

Sa aking pananaw, ang unang pagbabago ay kailangan mag-umpisa sa atin! Hwag na natin tignan ang kulay ng pera na pinamumudmod kundi ang malaman ang pagkatao ng ating mga kandidato. Alamin natin ang kani – kanilang “background” bago sila lumahok sa 2016 election.

What have they done to make us believe they can do what they say they will do for us?? Nasangkot ba sila sa mga kaso o isyu na may kinalaman sa graft and corruption?  Kumusta ang lifestyle niya? Simple o marangya?

*          *          *          *

Para sa 2016 National Elections, we have to elect 12 candidates for senator.

Before we start familiarizing ourselves with names of candidates, let us consider first what kind of job a senator is expected to perform. And in truth and in fact, a senator is expected to perform legislative function mainly, and is not elected to be the source of pork barrel funds for community projects. At saka dapat malinawagan ng lahat na wala nang pork barrel sa system natin. Pork barrel is already considered illegal by our Supreme Court.

So going back to the candidates for senator, expect na maraming pakulo ang gagawin ng mga kandidato just to get out attention. Huwag po tayo magpapadala agad sa popularity at alamin natin ang kabuuang pagkatao at plataporma, i.e. what laws he will propose to pass or amend.

Actually, the function of a congressman is very much the same as a senator. The only difference is their constituency. Hindi na rin po sila maasaahan sa pork barrel na kagaya nuon.

Mali ang madalas isipin ng mga kababayan natin na ang pangunahing tungkulin ng senador, o kaya ng congressman, ay ang pagbigay ng financial assistance kapag sila ay nangangailangan ng tulong o proyecto. Kailangan nating baguhin ang panananaw na ito, kundi magagalit ang multo ng mga dating batikang senador tulad nina Recto, Tanada at Diokno!

*          *          *          *

Have you noticed that the issue about the worsening illegal drug trade is hardly discussed by many candidates? Sana huwag balewalain ng ating mga lider at kandidato ang problemang ito, dahil maraming pamilya at barangay pa ang masisira kapag drug protector ang ating iniluklok. Kung wala nang saysay ang ating sinasabing “basic political units” na pamlya at barangay, ano kaya ang mangyayari sa bansa natin?
From among the senatoriables, former AFP Chief of Staff and PDEA Director General (Undersecretary) Dionisio R. Santiago would have the highest awareness about the dangers of illegal drugs. Malawak ang karanasan niya ukol sa pagsugpo ng iligal na droga. Itinalaga siya bilang PDEA Director General mula 2006 – 2010. Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang Dangerous Drugs Board of which I am the Secretary, is the policy-making and regulations body while PDEA is the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board, at tagapag-patupad ng RA No. 9165 o ang Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In brief, it is only Undersecretary Santiago who definitely has the exposure and the experience in battling illegal drugs. We can expect him to help us fight the drug lords with effective legislation. His experience in both the policy–making and prevention and enforcement arms of our domestic drug control mechanism will benefit the Senate and the country.

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments