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Thursday, February 26, 2004
Espinoza: Campaigning early
By Elias L. Espinoza
VOTE BUY. If ever the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will go after Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera for violation of the election laws for early campaign, it should also run after other candidates who committed the same infraction.
Admittedly, the poster that promotes Gargarnera, even if he denies he had a hand in it, did not solicit votes. It merely insinuated who he is, which will eventually unveil that he is a candidate for councilor in Cebu City.
At the end of the day, though, it is not the Comelec that will be the aggrieved or affected party, but the candidates in the opposite camp. The Comelec will be accused of nitpicking if it runs after Garganera on this issue.
To me, the ultimate judge is not the Comelec but the electorate. To disqualify Garganera of this hairline issue does not, in a broad sense, make Comelec free and secure from the suspicion of being an unsullied government instrumentality.
This is Gargarnera’s second try for a seat in the city council under the same party of former mayor Alvin Garcia. For the Comelec to proceed with the action against Garganera will make this outspoken barangay captain a martyr.
Be that as it may, it will also be unfair for the Comelec to run after Garganera if the other local candidates who made known through posters their intention to run before the start of the campaign period are excluded.
I don’t have to mention names, though, but I suppose the people, who have seen and read those posters on the walls in Mandaue City, can easily recall the name of that lady candidate.
Tell me, though, who among the local or national candidates have not violated the election laws? With the crab mentality that we have, every candidate will always want to get past others.
Instead of going after the candidates who may have violated the law that prohibits early campaigning through posters, the Comelec should focus its attention to vote buying by the candidates in any form or mode.
SUGGESTION. Alex B. Jumao-as, a former Filipino and Bisdak, who is now the assistant airport manager of Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, sent an email to my neighbor Rel Micame and I, asking our professional opinion as to what is best to fight poverty.
In my humble opinion, there is only one greatest obstacle to poverty and that is, sad to say, corruption in all levels of our government. Under this present environment, the rich becomes richer and the poor gets poorer everyday.
Instead of improving or maturing politically after the turn of a century, our political system had denigrated. With all due respect to some few good ones, some politicians do nothing than make their pockets fat and their tummies bulge.
While Alex asked our views, he also made suggestions in his e-mail. With the permission of our editors, please permit me to share to our readers his views on how to fight poverty.
“Atty. Espinoza and Mr. Micame, Greetings Gentlemen! This e-mail may sound odd to both of you but only through your journalistic column can I sincerely share my socio-economic point of view. I would like to ask both of your expertise and professional opinion as to what is best for the Philippines as a country to succeed in fighting poverty and lift the plunging economy in spite of the upcoming elections (politician promises) from your view as career journalists and longtime follower of Philippine politics. I had mentioned to you before after more than two decades of employment (both public and private firms) here in the U.S., that I am not an expert but would offer my humble personal opinion. Just recently, within a span of six months, two of my professional Fil-Am compadres retire from a long stint of service with Uncle Sam. These two registered professional engineers left the Philippines in their late 20’s. They have gained their experienced and expertise how to run business in public and how to deal private businesses as well. Without a doubt, these two are qualified to do business. Why am I implying these two individuals to my first statement? Because we have so many Filipino expatriates who are willing to help our country (the Philippines). These people are professional retirees; they already have pensions that can support them every month. So why not harvest their talent and expertise? They do not need beaucoup salaries for one since they already have monthly pensions; second, they are afraid of kickbacks since they are trained to do honest jobs.
So why can’t the Philippine government offer them incentives such as free and safe government housing? These people are willing to train and share their expertise to the local government emplo-yees - hoping that our local government employees may learn something from them. After all, these retirees help Uncle Sam’s strong government business backbones. What a cheap way to learn from the experts. It doesn’t even have to be extended to retirees, it can also be offered to our balikbayans who are vacationing and would like to spend a few days visiting government offices. If I will be asked personally, I will be there in a heartbeat. I don’t mind helping. Just for the record (I hate to toot my own horn), but every vacation time I spent in Cebu I always visit the universities to provide free lectures. Two years ago, I visited USC, and just last year I shared my experiences with the young engineers from USJ-R. It’s my way of enlightening our young upcoming pillars of society with fresh ideas coming from the core of the industrialized country, U.S.A. Though the expatriates are of foreign citizenry, but still deep in our hearts live the custom and culture of our native motherland, the Philippines. Mind sharing your thoughts! As always, I’m an avid reader of your article. Keep up the good work. God bless. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love is everlasting.”
(February 26, 2004 issue)
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