Monday, May 21, 2007 Nalzaro: It’s payback time By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THE frequently asked question during election time is where do politicians get their financial resources to support their candidacy? Running for a Senate seat usually costs a candidate over P200 million. A congressional candidate in one of the districts in the province reportedly spent that amount but still failed in his bid. A reelectionist mayor of a highly urbanized city shouldered all the expenses of his entire slate and even gave P300,000 to each councilor for their campaign kitty.
A politician seldom uses his hard-earned money or sells or pawns his personal properties for an election. Most politicians receive contributions from relatives, friends and benefactors, who are mostly businessmen with their own agenda. They expect something in return if their horse wins. Those who are in power use government resources in guise of projects to advance their candidacy.
The beneficiary-politicians don’t ask where contributions come from. They accept donations, even coming from persons with dubious personality. Most contributors during election time are engaged in smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal gambling. In return for their money, they want protection. So expect smuggling, illegal drug trade and illegal gambling to flourish. Our officials will ignore these illegal activities, as they exercise their “utang na loob.” Other big contributors are contractors and suppliers, who oftentimes corner government contracts.
Remember the controversy involving the bitumen products used for road asphalting and the defective Hino dumptrucks purchased by Cebu City Hall few years ago? You ask the people at City Hall and they will tell you who the supplier was. The supplier was one of the biggest campaign fund contributors of Mayor Tomas Osmena’s political party. That’s why Tommy defended the supplier when the transaction was questioned because of the defective dumptrucks. Well, he can always claim that it passed through a bidding. But we are not born yesterday. Biddings can be rigged and the contract can always be awarded to their favored contractors or suppliers.
Campaign fund contributors, most of whom are from the business community, can easily deal with the powers that be. They can even lobby to protect their interest, like making sure taxes aren’t raised or blocking the passage of any legislation that would greatly affect their sector. Sometimes these interest groups can influence and dictate those who are running the affairs of our government and policymakers.
Not only campaign fund contributors can ask concessions from those who won in the recently concluded elections, but other interest groups like religious and nongovernmental organizations, including the urban poor sector. During the campaign, I’m sure some politicians promised to protect the interest of these sectors. Sidewalk vendors can no longer be easily demolished because some politicians promised to protect them. Tricycle and trisikad drivers will now force their way even to prohibited roads because of the same campaign promise.
Expect political ward leaders or their sons and daughters to troop to City Hall to seek employment once newly elected officials assume office in July. That’s where “utang na loob” kicks in again. We always remember and value those people who, one way or another, helped us, especially in times when we needed their help.
Financial help is of great value during election time. So expect those politicians who were elected into office to repay the people who financially helped them during their campaign. It’s payback time, indeed.
