Popularity

Looking back at my high school days, I remember that Student Council elections then was a mere popularity issue. If you were a member of the varsity team, the son/daughter of a PTA member or a school board member, or even if you were just damn good looking, you’re already considered as a shoo-in for the post that you’re running for. Heck, it didn’t even matter if you didn’t know what the post you’re running for is, all that matter is you woo over the votes from people who admire you.

That’s one of the reasons I didn’t vote during my freshman year in College. I was still under the impression that it was still a popularity issue, and the names SAMASA, STAND-UP and PRO-STUDENT made little sense to me, and I just admired that their leaders had enough creativity to coin up a party name. I just found out later that each group had their own ideology, and eventually I found myself block voting year after year for a particular party, because I found out that they would not only defend my rights as a student, but also link my struggle as a student to the struggle outside the university. I’m from State U by the way, so go figure.

When I got home today, thinking of what to write for my blog (I haven’t been writing for about a couple of months, and aside from the fact that I was really rusty and had writer’s block, I wanted my comeback piece to be spectacular of sorts) I grabbed yesterdays copy of the Inquirer and chanced upon the part where the senatorial candidates gave their opinions on things. The issue yesterday was on what should be done to stop the extrajudicial killings and what the particular senatorial candidate’s attitude towards militant party-list groups was.

Here are some of the comments made by the candidates, just in case you didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s copies:

Kiram on extrajudicial killings (EK): Hasten the setting up of special courts to try and dispose of alleged cases.

Me: And what will those special courts do? For one thing, the Melo commissions findings as far as I know, didn’t get anywhere. Even the Sandiganbayan hasn’t gotten around finishing the Estrada plunder trial and you go create more courts?

Kiram on attitude toward militant party-list groups (Party list): Get categorical statements and commitments from leaders of such groups to renounce armed struggle and terrorism as a means of social, political, and economic changes in the country.

Me: The fact that you want to get categorical statements and commitments from the leaders means that you’re already prejudiced against them in the first place, branding them as proponents of armed struggle, when all the government has against them are allegations. And even if these groups were indeed proven to be proponents of armed struggle, then it would be pointless to get their statements and commitments, right? What was the word Conrado de Quiros used in one of his editorials? Oh I think I remember: Mindless.

Defensor on EK: …We should restore public trust in the military and police by orienting them on proper community relations and make them assume a pro-active role in civic and community affairs.

Me: And how do we restore public trust, when the military and police are being accused in the first place of committing the said acts? The fact that the Arroyo administration has kept mum on the alleged involvement of the Military in the Garci scandal is proof that the present government doesn’t care that the public has trust in the military or not.

Defensor on Party-list: Let us just allow the judicial process to take it’s course [in the Ocampo case].

Me: Yeah, let’s respect their decision, like the fact that the government brought up a 20+ year old warrant of arrest to Rep. Beltran, and like what happened when they whisked convicted rapist Daniel Smith to the US Embassy in the middle of the night.

Gomez on EK: A person shouldn’t be condemned or executed without proper justice. He should be given his day in court. We should all respect the judicial system.

Me: Tell that to the victims of the killings, such as the two militant leaders killed while bringing their daughter to her elementary school. Tell that to the journalists killed while doing their jobs. Tell that to the people who actually committed the acts. Heck, tell that to the families of two of my UP schoolmates who were abducted (all fingers point to the military) in Bulacan, when one of them was finishing her thesis, and the other one was pregnant doing civic work. They’ve been missing for almost a year now, and things are starting to look bleak that we’ll find them.

Gomez on Party-list: Everything should be proven in court [Ocampo case and alleged links of certain party-list groups to the Communist Party of the Philippines]. We have to respect the court’s decision.

Me: For some reason, I’m reminded about the Nursing Exam leak last year. *takes a peak at Mike Defensor’s answer*

Montano on EK: The hearings conducted by the Melo commission were boycotted by the relatives of some of the supposed victims, and by several militant organizations that accused the government forces of being behind the killings… Also I think Philip Alston, the UN representative, did not have enough time to get the true picture.

Me: Seriously Cesar, you expect me to believe this as an educated answer? D-uh. If you’re life becomes threatened by the very people who’re supposed to protect you from harm if you come and testify, what would you do? Also, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that by talking to the eyewitnesses and the families of the victims, the UN (last time I checked, you have to have an impeccable record and must have very impressive resume just to be a representative of the UN) representative got the whole picture already.

Montano on Party-list: I do not know how this started and why there is such an accusation. We have to study this carefully. I will talk to our people regarding this. What I know is that party-list groups want to help our countrymen. I also want to help our people.

Me: Hey, me too! I will talk to our people too! I want to help our countrymen too! Can I also run for Senator? Puhlezeee….! Oh well, it’s commendable that you admit that you don’t know anything about the issue. I give you an almost passing mark for honesty.

——–

Here’re positive ones for a change:

Arroyo on EK: Political killings have no place in an established democracy like ours… It is not enough for the military to deny involvement in these killings-they must solve these crimes and put the responsible people behind bars.

Me: If only we can put “command responsibility” into the picture. Then we’d be happier as a country, eh? Too bad you can’t really say anything bad about your party head.

Arroyo on Party-list: There is something grievously wrong with the arrest of Satur Ocampo and others, and the detention of Crispin Beltran. When Cory Aquino assumed presidency in 1986, she lifted the suspension f the writ of habeas corpus. That amounted to a policy statement that those detained for going against martial law were free so long as they did not go against the (Cory) government. She then granted amnesty to all who have or may have committed any act penalized under the existing laws in the furtherance of their political beliefs, and who were facing the charges for their beliefs. That included Congressman Ocampo.

Me: ‘Nuff said.

Jess Paredes on EK: Absolutely unacceptable! Law enforcers must not resort to these… they cannot be jailers, prosecutors, judges, and executioners rolled into one…

Me: Hear, hear!

Jess Paredes on Party-list: It’s (timing of Satur’s arrest) preposterous! Completely out of turn! Condemnable, even. Shame on the administration. So ill-advised.

Me: Okay na sana eh, but you really had to be too emotional, didn’t you? lol

Aaaaahhh.. memories of high school. What a waste of money and resources if the outcome for the elections is gonna be determined by cheating and popularity. If only the outcome of the elections can be like what happened in the US, where the Democrats now control both houses. Too bad it’s only gonna be wishful thinking in our case.

———–

Author’s note: If you see any typos and gramitical errors, I apologize. I won’t apologize for my opinions though, ‘coz that’s what they are, opinions. If any of those people I featured here were to find themselves in my blog, then you’re free to sue me for libel. You won’t get anything out of it anyway.