Thursday, May 24, 2007 Speak Out: Depasucat laments By Reynaldo P. Depasucat Prov’l Board Member (3rd District, Neg. Occ.)
I TAKE a stand to speak what transpired last May 14, 2007 when the sovereign people went to the polls to exercise their right of suffrage as a very important element of our democratic process.
As my term as a provincial board member expires June 30, 2007, I decided to run for Congressman. I joined the Liberal Party, Onion wing. This party has no resources to support their candidates. I relied on the support of friends and sympathizers who believed my cause. Two mayors supported me publicly.
Despite the problem, I decided to run because I thought my idealism and principles already fit with the intelligence of the voters of the Third District, that they are now politically educated and already politically matured because of the various political struggles we have experienced.
I run on the theme that now is the time for change of leadership in the Third District, a time to have a fresh start, a time to set new direction, a time to have a competent and able representation in the House of Representatives and the time of transparent and macro view of spending the so called pork barrel.
The campaign went on smoothly with many young volunteers who were college students or graduates ready to take issues on the ideals and principles I stood for.
A month before the election, vote buying was already observed. Rice distribution purchased by government funds flooded on both rural and urban poor areas by those who are in power. Ward leaders were hired and paid weekly. As the election day goes nearer it is observed that almost 60% of the voters in every barangay are already funded to vote for a certain candidate. New projects were likewise initiated with big billboards of the opponent during the campaign period.
During the eve of the election day, worst huge money flowed to buy votes. Not only money but it is coupled with threats and intimidation.
In my hometown, at 11:00 o’clock in the evening of May 13, 2007, armed men numbering 10 entered an hacienda knocked the door of the houses of my supporters and that of the mayor who supported me and at gun point gave 200 or 500 to the occupants to vote for a certain candidate.
Of course, against this representation and the mayor who supported me. When they disagreed, their fingers were inked with indelible ink in order that they cannot vote.
I was awakened in the middle of the night by the hacienda owner. But I was helpless. A day before the COP of E. B. Magalona Police Station was already relieved. The PNP Force at that time was in law morale. What transpired spreaded in the whole district. It was news province-wide and nationwide.
I am a martial law baby. I was a college student at the height of student activism. When I graduated in college in 1971, martial law was declared on September 21, 1972. I fought a martial law regime because elections are rigged by the use of Goons, Guns and Gold that lurked at the time.
When I became a lawyer in 1979, I continued fighting a totalitarian regime until our democracy was restored when Pres. Cory was brought to power in a People Power Revolution in February 1986.
Today, we are going back to the type of election during martial law. In my hometown, it was governed by Gold, Guns and Goons. This is dangerous for the survival of our democracy.
I concede defeat. I thank the 46,891 who voted for me and believed in my cause that not a cent was spent by me for them in order to vote for me.
I do not say that all of the 86,695 who voted for the winner was bought.
But because some of those who received money from the other side confessed personally to this representation that P1,000.00, P500.00, P200.00 or P100.00 was shelled out per voter the victory they achieved is tainted and or clouded with big doubt of real and genuine victory.
Third District has a total voters of 324,000. Only a total of 133,566 voted for Congressman. What happens to 190,414 who did not cast their votes? This is a big question mark which is the result of massive vote buying coupled with threats and intimidation during the last election for congressman in the Third District. In other words 58.76 or 59 percent did not cast their votes for Congressman last election.
I concede defeat with dignity. I did not resort to vote buying threats or intimidation. Those who voted for me are true and genuine defenders for the survival of our democracy.
I abhor massive vote buying, threats and intimidations employed during the last election simply just to win. Thank you very much.
