“The circus, the mudslinging, the violence”
The campaign period officially kicked off two weeks ago, and now election fever is gripping the nation. I’m actually quite impressed that the overall tone of almost every camp has been positive. While, yes, there is a bit of direct mudslinging here and there, they seem to be more like puddle splashes rather than the usual mudballs.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the election-related violence, especially in the provinces. Yes, there have been some casualties as early as last year, but things like these happening right at the start of the campaign period just hit differently.
Just last week, I heard of an incident in the Southern Luzon region. It involved a Barangay Kagawad in Kawit, Cavite. According to the reporter, Kagawad Crisanto Villanueva was just in front of his house, one morning, when a motorcycle riding gunman shot him twice; one in the face and one in the chest. Santa Banana! The man probably barely had his morning coffee and he’s already been force-fed two bullets for breakfast!
After doing the dastardly deed, the assailant revved his motorcycle away and was never seen again. “Kagawad Cris,” as the official was known in the community, was rushed to the hospital, but he was proclaimed dead an hour after the shooting incident.
One of the politicians that first expressed his sadness and condolences to the bereaved Villanueva family was Cavite First District Congressman, and Kawit mayoralty candidate, Francis Gerald “Boy Blue” Abaya. Cris was one of Abaya’s trusted allies in Kawit.
When news, my gulay, of Cris’ murder hot social; media, speculations about the motive behind his murder all pointed to politics
While Cris’ family came out to and spoke to stop the speculations, claiming that they, as a family, have yet to release a statement, the netizens can’t seem to deny the links, especially in a notoriously ruthless political landscape like Cavite’s, my gulay.
It also doesn’t help that there’s a video circulating of a gathering for Kawit Mayor and reelectionist Angelo Abaya. In it the one taking the video was asking a man in a face mask,”Anong gagawin mo sa tarpaulin ng mga kalaban natin? (What are you going to do with the tarpaulins of our enemies?)”
The man in the face mask responded by extending his hand out as if holding a gun, then pantomiming gun recoil;. That response was met with a bit of levity from the video taker. My gulay! Who are these psychopaths?
Tragically, another life, that of a public servant, was taken due to violence, probably to intimidate, or silence, political opposition.
It has officially begun. The idealist in me hopes to see less of that type of news as the campaign period goes. But, the realist in me tells me not to hold my breath, Santa Banana!
**
At this point, with the commanding lead of Bongbong Marcos over all the other aspirants, their only hope is to unite to form a single unified opposition. But, my gulay, even that may be a long shot!
There was a time before the 90-day campaign period started some of the aspirants wanted Vice President Leni Robredo to unite with some of the other aspirants to form a united opposition. But, the problem was at that time, who will be the united opposition’s leader. That is when self-interest prevailed over good.
In a country like the Philippines, it is imperative to have a united opposition to act as check and balance. Assent and dissent must always be protected, otherwise, there can only be tyranny. This is what I have been advocating, a united and strong opposition, strong enough to act as the check and balance of a current government that can abuse its power.
I am not saying this because I expect that Bongbong Marcos will likely abuse power, but the lower echelons could. This is where the country urgently needs a strong united opposition.
The challenges facing the next president are indeed daunting, especially so with the expectation of the ending of the COVID-19 pandemic, called “ENDemic”, which could be expected at the end of this year. With the new normal, the challenges that the new president will face must be difficult. The new president will have to face the need for the country to go back to pre-pandemic days. Santa Banana, this will be one of the most critical and urgent issues for the country at this point in time.
The questions that will face the new president are unemployment with no less than about four million Filipinos without jobs and livelihood. How will the new leader address this? We need to resuscitate the economy, especially the small and medium industries. But how, when this will cost a lot of money that the country doesn’t have and already is overburdened by debt?
Most importantly, what the new president needs most is the cooperation of the private sector and the public to meet this new challenge. It will be most critical and overwhelming for the new president.
Will the elections be honest and orderly?
Insofar as surveys are concerned, one big factor is the so-called bandwagon mentality, where those undecided will join the bandwagon of a winning candidate like BBM/Sara.
In short, poll surveys do have a great influence on the decision of people whom to vote for. Santa Banana! Poll surveys are important especially to businessmen when they want to launch a new product. I believe that poll surveys are also important for people to decide finally whom to vote for.