Friday, June 06, 2008 Roperos: Proposed snap polls By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
THERE was, it seems, an immediate uproar against the proposed holding of a snap elections to give President Arroyo an opportunity to “cleanse” her presidency of any stain and suspicion of public shenanigans and for the presidential hopefuls to use the occasion as a dry run for their own aspirations.
A snap election seldom presents itself in contemporary history. There is no doubt that Arroyo has gathered along the way of her presidency issues and complaints that truly taxed the energy and imagination of her supporters in building up walls of defenses for her political salvation. The annual ritual of filing impeachment proceedings against her has become a kind of tradition, and a national farce.
The possibility of the situation becoming tragic and violent could not be discounted. Thus, the best way to preempt it or rule it out entirely is not to leave it as a lingering ailment but undertake a solution that would relieve Arroyo of the burden that would either affirm her presidency or deny her the privilege to continue.
Such a situation could work all the way down to the countryside, a cleansing process of the political soul of her followers, too.
Examples are the much ballyhooed scams in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue that figured the mayors of both cities. The way their so-called “activities” landed on the front pages and in opinion columns would make us feel that nothing good could happen in urban centers where the mayors only thought of lining their respective pockets.
However, a survey undertaken by various international and domestic organizations came up with a very interesting result. The Asian Institute of Management, in partnership with the governments of Canada and Australia and together with International Finance Corporations of the World Bank and our Trade and Industry, did a research on the prevailing business climate here.
Surprisingly, in the study group’s report, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City and Mandaue City figured prominently in the various areas of study, such as starting a business, procedures to start a business and cost of starting a business.
Well, my question is, can an area’s social and economic well-being be better than what its leader is thought of? Can the Philippines or Lapu-Lapu be better or worse than what we think of President Arroyo or Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza? Can an area be better than its leader? Can GMA do better for this republic?
