Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Editorials: Guardo’s ‘vote-buying’ spree
ONE can say that allegations of vote-buying during elections are old hat.
But if Rep. Antonio Cuenco really has evidence that his political opponent, Jonathan Guardo, is into “wholesale vote buying,” he should formalize the complaint.
To say that he will only file a case if surveys show that the alleged vote buying has affected his poll chances makes his motivation in making the allegation suspicious.
People may even consider it as but in keeping with the line used by Cuenco as campaign slogan obviously against Guardo: that Cebu City’s south district is not for sale.
Selfish end
Thus, instead of making Cuenco look good, the threat may yet backfire on him.
It will portray him as obsessed more in the objective of winning, which is a selfish motive, and not with helping cleanse the electoral process, which is a selfless goal.
Of course, as a lawyer and an old hand in politics, Cuenco knows what it takes to make charges of vote buying and other election violations against a candidate stick.
That may require more than barangay captains submitting formal statements on Guardo’s alleged offers and identifying the supposed paymasters.
Not innocent
Then there’s this old admonition that each time an accuser points a finger at somebody, three of his fingers are pointing back at him.
And what about that biblical scene where Christ told Mary Magdalene’s tormentors that only those who have not sinned should throw stones at the woman?
It’s not that Guardo may be innocent of the charge.
Indeed, since he announced his intention to run for Congress in Cebu City’s south district, rumors have swirled about his use of money to prop up his campaign.
Claims that Guardo bought the loyalty of barangay captains previously identified with Cuenco are not even new, and the former has not answered well those accusations.
Not clean
Unfortunately for Cuenco and perhaps fortunately for Guardo, there is also that perception that no candidate is clean, meaning, they buy votes or violate election rules.
The situation has so degenerated that people have considered vote buying as part of the electoral process and gleefully accept money handed to them by candidates.
Which is unfair because there are still well-meaning sectors out there that either refuse to jump into the muck or are actively campaigning to cleanse the electoral process.
These sectors will surely gravitate towards Cuenco if his expose on Guardo’s alleged money-giving spree will go beyond the motivation to win the election.
