Dirty Politics

Election! Oh, when will you be free from distrust? When shall we move really to make you morally dear and glaringly pure? When shall we cease throwing accusations against one another?

Below is an scarlet letter, an open letter if you will, being circulated through email by no less than the author of the letter himself. Clearly, the author of this email, who is from Kalinga now living in affluence in the U.S.A, endorses local candidates whom he favors. Albeit, the letter may be regarded as a smear campaign or simply a piece of political propaganda against certain candidates on the issue of political dynasty. To embark on character assassinations, the way it is happening now from the national to the local level, simply because we endorse certain candidates is utterly unacceptable. It is because we prefer that accusations be solved in a proper forum, the court in case of graft and corruption, not through hullabaloo or hooliganism in a typical street democracy.

Political dynasty is indeed a legitimate issue that befits broader public discourse not just in times of electoral exercise otherwise it is bereft of persuasive appeal. To incessantly spotlight it during elections tend to sidestep other equally pressing issues such as peace and order, environment, poverty and other economic anomalies. The sets of reasons offered in the email are still harebrained in a broader context. They are highly speculative in nature circumscribed by one's imbecility and a readily preference to certain candidates.

The absurdities of political theories from which our political system is based along with the variability of our cultures and values as a Filipino nation perpetuate the anomalies we see in our country today. Political dynasty is as ever a moral controversy indeed but it may not necessarily be a political issue in Philippine politics and perhaps even in other countries. This maybe a subject very dear to the hearts and minds of moralists and academics up and down the country. The constitution proscribes dynasty at the very least. Unfortunately, in policy perspective the lack of clear definitions and a framework as well that restricts political dynasty in the country is itself an anomaly. This should be the province of the legislature, the House of Representative and Senate, to look into. How many years had passed since the 1987 Constitution manage to come out from the political factory of this country? Philippine politics is basically both a well-off family and personality affair. This could be the reason why through the years no politicians did seriously consider it a democratic hodgepodge when they successfully get into the halls of congress. We remain optimistic nonetheless that someone will brave the path where before the “angels fear to thread”.

To be fair, just to name only few, the following are kins or related by virtue of affinity that have run simultaneously this local elections in Kalinga:

1. Atty. Macario Dugiang running for congress, neophyte Mrs. Thelma Bayle Ng vying for Tabuk's Vice Mayoralty and retired Secretary of the provincial board Mr. James Alunday for Mayor of Lubuagan;

2. Dr. Joseph Delson for congressman and brother-in-laws Benigno Duyan and Dacio Duyan who are running as Vice Governor and provincial board member, respectively;

3. Re-electionist Tabuk Vice Mayor Atty. Ranier Sarol and Mr. Eddie Sarol seeking to be elected as member of the provincial board and re-electionist Tabuk Councilor Basilio Wandag, Jr. ;

4. Congressman Atty. Laurence Wacnang in his bid to return as governor and sons-in-law newbies Mr. James Bejarin for congress, and former NBI agent Jamwell Tiggangay hoping to get elected as Mayor of Tanudan, respectively.

If the author of the email has decency he should have ridiculed the other candidates rather than single out two candidates whom unfortunately he dislikes.

This election season one can easily throw accusations or propaganda against the other candidates to gain mileage and vice-versa. Accusations like vote-buying, that even certain candidates are accused of being determined to spend about 70 – 80 million, which we do not absolutely know whether it is true or not, is circulating through text messages. What is certain is that this is an election season. One throws accusations and propaganda against the other and vice-versa. What is certain further is that almost everybody buys vote - administration or opposition; it is just that one is better off than the other.

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Dear Fellow Kababayan sa Kalinga,

Good day to all of you! Before I begin my letter... just a disclaimer, for people who know me they know that I love the Kalinga provinces very much and I am not really one who rants and complaints to high heavens about what is happening to our place and does nothing about it, in fact, I feel that I have done much service in Kalinga by setting up Pathways to the poor farmers in low land and upland, when I was there working as agent of change in the Department of Agriculture.

For the last few months, we saw our friends, relatives, father and son in-law, a new political alliances for this coming Governor and Congressional election. Now we have two political forces with familiar faces nonetheless on opposite sides of the fences. On one end, you have Floy Diasen and Benny Duyan who were two major stalwarts of the opposition. These two candidates are highly recommended for fair and balance government. On the other side of the fence, you see Wacnang, the former 3 times derby winner in Congress of Kalinga who was responsible for the development of Kalinga, but he failed compare to Apayao... Now if you don't see anything wrong with this picture then you must be one of the many Kalingas who have accepted this very sad reality that there is indeed no permanent ideals that our government leaders stand up for but rather they just go where there self-interests can best be served. It is with these in mind that I'd like to share with you what are events this coming May elections that will make me consider leaving the Kalinga province:

1.) If former Congressman Wacnang wins in his bid to become Governor of Kalinga...seeking to replace a good man no less in incumbent Hon. Doming Belac.. We would really be the laughing stock of the whole Philippines if we allow a man with the reputation of Wacnang to be one of our so called "Honorable Gentlemen of Kalinga".

2.) If James Bejarin (son in-law of Wacnang) seat at the Congress, Kalinga province become his hacienda, he will take his share all the time. Let us make sure that people like him never make it to the Congress at this time.

3.) If Ba-ac becomes a Vice Governor... what does he know about making our province better? He was a Vice Governor before and he did not do anything for the people? He will slap you if he doesn't like you.

Now if all of these 3 things happen during this coming elections then don't be surprised if I decide to leave Kalinga that I love dearly. Like I said during the medical mission, I feel that I have done much for this province but I think its time that Kalingas, Igorots, Ilocanos, Tagalog, Apayaos and Muslims, become more vigilant and critical in selecting our leaders for the sake of our future and the generations that will go beyond us. So I appeal to every Kalinga resident who asks what can I actually do for my province... Choose and vote for the right people this coming elections, huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong maganda lang ang porma, mapera, naka sakay sa helicopter na magcompanya. These are the candidates who doesn't care! They don't feel what you feel walking on the trail for five hours 50 degrees Centigrade under the sun just to bring your products to the market or to bring your child to the hospital or school. Let us choose leaders who have a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed towards serving our province. I still remember of what my father said; "Son, how I wish that our leaders in Kalinga would be like the late Congressman Duyan. He is very humble man, he offered his bed to his visitors, he allow students to utilize his office in Congress. He is very low profile and a big heart to the people".

Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating Kinabukasan at para sa Kapakanan ng ating Bayan Kalinga! Please help our new leaders and protect your votes.

Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter.

Sincerely,
Mario Manzano
UKAA- President & Past President
BIBAK Northeast, USA