Pack up! Corrupt government officials must have the sense of "delicadeza" and voluntarily leave their posts.
This was the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to erring public servants, especially local executives. But this is not what the people expect from him. Just like how he, or his administration, has treated, Senator Leila de Lima, everyone expects Duterte to use iron hands in dealing with thieves in public offices.
Letting these crooks go away is just like unhooking them from the grave misdeeds that they had committed. The Filipinos want to see them in jail. That was what the president had promised them when he was still courting their support.
Allowing these dishonest officials run away with their loots is actually not a punishment but a reward. Why should they be rewarded for fooling the people and stealing public funds? Crime does not pay, and criminals must pay the right price.
For the president to call for their resignation is something unacceptable to the people. In fact, he is sending a wrong signal. He said he hates criminals. He hates illegal drugs and so is corruption. Now is his time to prove it.
He must run after these thieves and haul them to jail. Anything less would lead to public dissatisfaction which may take a heavy toll on his popularity.
Surely, he will not like the result. With his dwindling charisma among the ordinary Filipinos, Duterte can no longer afford to make an unpopular decision. Any misstep, at this point in time, may cost him the presidency.
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The word "inutile" fits the Commission on Elections to a tee. Not because they want it nor they refuse to work. It's just that they cannot do something about the alleged violations committed by unscrupulous candidates whose only aim is to win the election "by hook or by crook."
The admission of Bacolod election registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia that they cannot pull down campaign materials posted outside of designated areas is a big disgrace to the voting public.
Blame not the Comelec but the framers of the Election Code, who did not consider the financial requirements of the numerous prohibitions that they enumerated in the law.
According to Sia, they can only take pictures of the tarps and posters and send the complaint to the legal department of the commission, which will act on it, along with thousands other petitions, on a "first come, first serve basis." This would mean that some of the complaints emanating from the provinces may be resolved long after the Election Day.
So, a law violator who can muster more votes than his rivals because of his dirty tricks might be proclaimed winner but could be disqualified from office later, if proven guilty of the charges.
Unfortunately, he will be replaced not by the candidates he defeated but by a councilman who got the highest number of votes by virtue of the rule of succession. This is how the election law works in this country. A proclaimed winner can only be unseated by one of his rivals through vote recount.