For the nth time in his Sunday TV program Gikan sa Masa para sa Masa, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has parried enticements for him to run for the top national post in next year’s presidential elections. He has repeatedly reasoned out that he is not interested in any national position. What he is campaigning for is the adoption of the political system called Federalism.
And he went so far as to reveal that to run for a top national seat requires hundreds of millions of pesos for the campaign, “And I’m not that rich,” he says. And he rejects the idea of some people funding his campaign kitty, because that would make him deeply beholden to the financiers—something he loathes to become.
From what we know of politicos, Duterte’s words are a rarity. And it is deserving of applause. His is a trait that simply departs from the despicable ways of the so called “Trapo” politicos. Following Mayor Duterte’s political journey across the years, we recognize that as a distinct style all his own.
Well, it seems that money is an issue of overriding importance and of paramount value in any elections for government posts in this country. It presents as a primary consideration, before anything else. Not even the “popularity factor” matters as much. Money rings an enchanting sound and radiates blinding glitters that can sway the entire conduct of the electoral process. As such an encompassing influence, it can even orchestrate or fraudulently engineer one’s popularity factor as creatively as the ballot can be manipulated. Money, as we know, is the mother of all fraud.
But why? Why should the electoral process be compromised by money and one’s candidature be dependent on money Throw that question into everybody’s ears and the answer is invariably “But that’s the way it is! That’s the way it was, that’s the way it should be! There’s no other way. That’s the way it has always been — in America, in any other free society— in a democracy!”
Yes! And that is what makes our electoral system utterly rotten! Yes, that is the rationale of a free enterprise society! Yes, that is the magic and logic of what they call a democracy. Yes, that is what the United States of America planted on our domestic political soil to insure a system of patronage politics—a system that makes a mockery of the principle of universal suffrage and the sanctity of the ballot—a system that favors the moneyed class—the wealthy—the economic elite—they who have been blessed with favors and privileges upon the installation of the Philippine “Puppet” Republic by the US. It is a system that engenders puppetry and corruption!
These US-trained puppet politicians whom we have mistakenly called leaders are they whose names through several decades ring the same familiar sound ever since the Commonwealth period. These are the Quezons, the Roxases, the Osmeñas, the Laurels, the Marcoses, the Macapagals, the Aquinos, Ramoses, . . And now, come a host of Johnnies Come-Lately (mga politikong bagong salta) who have learned the tricks of electioneering through the years— the Estradas, Villars, Binays, Legardas, Cayetanos, and Escuderos. . . and all the Trapo upstarts in the bureaucracy and halls of Congress. And what is so appealing with these names is that they are all in the “gallery of millionaires” in our debt-ridden, poverty-stricken society.
Lo and behold, the magical music and voice and choreography by the leading protagonists in the electoral fight for the top post have already started to lure the electorate by the power of their money. Their campaign gimmicks, this early, have started to manifest on the TV screens and other channels of mass communication as paid advertisements. On TV they are presented in veritable showbiz acts scripted to the mood of telenovelas, and no less than the presidential bets themselves playing the lead roles.
One marvels at the skill with which Binay characterizes the ever- merciful, ever-charitable hero who comes to the scene of calamities and tragedies with admirable promptness, doing his act with graciousness not unlike the venerable Pope.
But Mar Roxas can not be upstaged with his boyish smile of a hero who rushes to a village community presumably deprived of the most basic of material needs—water! And like an ancient prophet of God sporting a magic stick he uses to tap the side of a rock , water soon gushes out to flood the souls of the populace! Wow, such splendid act of foolery and deception must earn the just disdain of the masses!
And oh, Alan Peter Cayetano! What in heaven’s name does he propose to babble with his glib tongue? Shifting tactics, huh? So, this bully of a Senator during legislative investigations in aid of legislation now softens his voice to melodious tones to woo the electorate in aid of deception? He had better dance his way to Moroland and enunciate his most eloquent apologetic lullabies to dissipate if not dissolve his chauvinist diatribes against the Bangsamoro to insure he does not garner a big Zero vote come election day.
And this is the way the electoral process by which the Filipino people has been robbed of their genuine democratic rights. Gimmickry, cajolery and deceit—that’s the name of the game. The elections is nothing but a farce, a mockery of universal suffrage much touted by the merchants of deceit in a free enterprise society.
Where is the vision of a society that should have been the central concern and preoccupation a presidential bet must craft by the full harness of his intellect and wisdom that ensues from the unshakable will and commitment to the supreme interest of the majority? Where are the plans and programs of action that identify the medium and long-term economic goals spelled out in definite, concrete and specific terms?
Only an altered electoral system can guarantee the emergence of a genuine leader of the people—one who is a visionary and has the interests of the majority at heart. Such a radically reformed system will do away with patronage politics. And certainly money will never be a an issue or a consideration .
The central issue of an authentic elections would b e the plans of government and the program of action that shall take into account the emancipation of the masses from age-old poverty. such goal can only ensue from clear economic policies that can sustain growth and development beneficial to every one — every one!
[Next time, my next essay shall tackle what in my contemplation would be the essential features of an alternative electoral system.]
