IN PROVINCES ruled by the oligarchs and political dynasties in control of the local government units (LGUs), like Negros Island, electoral politics have apparently and practically been weaponized by a number of LGU executives aided by their political operators to ensure that they get what they want out of elections and still ensure that they or their kin or political buddies perpetuate themselves in power.
Weaponization includes the use of LGU resources, powers and influence to mobilize personnel and special operators, ensure that they get the votes they want, and deliver them to whoever they want to position in authority and power.
Weaponization also includes the misrepresentation of the people by the LGU executives to the national powers to make it appear that they are in effective control of their juridical territory, and ensure that they get curry favor from the new administration.
Weaponization is an assault to the Philippine Constitution of 1987, and the general spirit and goal of the Local Government Code (LGC 1991) of making LGUs truly work for the people, building a responsive, inclusive, transparent and accountable governance, and no less, the empowerment of the people in local governance.
Weaponization deprives the people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, not only of their right to vote freely with their conscience on one hand; and on the other hand, strengthens the reign of the status quo.
Weaponization most brutal victim is the truth, the truth about deepening impoverishment and powerlessness of our people, truth about our nation’s lack of vision, goals and sovereign platform, truth about the continuing control of our government by oligarchs, powerful political dynasties and narco-politicians.
As one of the independent consultants of DILG-SLGP, also assisting the Bantay Korapsyon Program and People’s Council for Change advocacy under the office of Usec. Epimaco Densing III, I find it the above developments rather disturbing especially with the persistent public perception that all above is reportedly being committed with the indirect consent, de facto toleration of DILG local officials. This is something that DILG Usec for local government Marlo Iringan and also Usec. Densing must investigate.
DILG officials and personnel are the chief enforcers of national government policies and programs, the guardians of LGUs. They should not let this pass without scrutiny especially in the perspective that DILG must prepare its DILG field personnel and LGUs in the effective implementation and management of the responsibilities and accountabilities set by the EO 138 or full devolution process and the Garcia Mandanas Ruling by Supreme Court granting LGUs with more national tax allocation as their responsibilities have increased several fold.
Furthermore, I have often been asked why the big property owners, the oligarchs and political dynasties who are in effective control of most LGUs have easily survived through changing administrations even though they are more known for enriching themselves in power than improving the quality of life of the people they took oath to serve?
They are powerful not because they truly are but that our people are unorganized and powerless, lacking common vision, platform, political strategy, organizations and visionary and principled leaders.
During elections, people tend to forget that they are citizens with needs, dignity and responsibility because politicians treat them as mere voters, thus they are removed from their natural community and sectoral formation and herded into campaign machinery.
In contrast, most property owners in control of LGUs are seasoned demagogue, master of the politics of money, muscle and areglo (MMA), which guarantee the perpetuation in authority and power of the father-politician, then to the mother, son and daughter, then their next of kin, and if their clan runs out, to their “kabarkada, kabarilan, katsismisan, kainuman.”
This sounds exaggerated and funny, but so true.
The art of expediency, that conscienceless game of shifting political parties or affiliations as if they are just changing their clothes and cosmetics anytime they want, has made them survive different administrations.
At one time they are pro-administration, at another time, they are anti, then make the final move at the moment they know exactly who would be the likely winners.
They represent the most unreliable, vacillating and treacherous class in our society.
But unless the vulnerable and marginalized sectors are organized, guided by democratic and patriotic politics, act on well thought-out collective political decisions, resolute in their struggles for their interests and demands, led by charismatic and principled leaders -- they will remain powerless, voiceless in our society ruled for decades by a few powerful property owners who likewise in control of the LGU machineries.
I hope the post PRRD administration will usher fresh air into our national and local governance, and set the motion for a more responsive, inclusive, participatory, resilient and smart governance.