Thursday, May 10, 2007 Espinoza: Voting for the right people By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
ON Monday, qualified voters all over the country will troop to their respective voting precincts to decide the future of our nation for the next three years.
This midterm election is not about President Arroyo or former president Erap but is about our country and our future. It is not about personalities.
My only wish is for the majority of voters to wake up to reality. It’s about time that we keep the sacredness of our right to choose our officials. We should not exchange this sacred right for a measly sum.
Let us choose the right people for the right position in government. He or she must be honest, decent, peace loving, God fearing and knowledgeable or well educated.
We cannot leave the affairs of this almost failing government to the hands of the corrupt, inept, and those with criminal minds. Incompetence is a result of lack of education.
We need men and women who cannot be bought, whose word is their bond, who place character above wealth, who possess opinion and a will, and who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth even when it is unpopular. *** We’re friends but I am not really a fan of Acting Deputy Ombudsman Virgie Santiago. I had some cases before the ombudsman that were decided against my clients’ interest but I did not take it against her.
This is not in defense of Santiago but I think the motion for inhibition and administrative case that Gov. Gwen Garcia filed against her were meant as a gag. Santiago’s lips are now sealed.
Santiago was penalized for being vocal and candid. There may be rules against disclosure of pending cases before the ombudsman but the public wants transparency and Santiago is providing that.
Santiago got the ire of Garcia for her statements in relation to the graft case that businessman Crisologo Saavedra filed against the governor and others on the alleged overspending for the construction of the CICC.
Unwittingly, the case against Santiago can create a bad precedent. Others similarly situated as the governor could just file a case against graft investigators to prevent them from performing their duties. **** I agree with chess GM Bombi Aznar that boxing champ Manny Pacquiao could have spent his money well had he put up boxing stables all over the country instead of running for Congress.
By doing so, Pacquiao would not only have helped train the underprivileged with good potentials to become a champion like him but would also have helped them make decent money.
Or he could have organized an association of boxers in the country with him as president for life, which is a more honorable path than being an ineffective congressman.
This is Pacquiao’s first time in politics but he is already acting like a trapo (traditional politician).
And if he wins against Darlene Antonino-Custodio, he will be the first boxer to be addressed “honorable.”
