AFTER CALLING attention to the victims of tropical storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana), Patrollers shifted their attention to politicians who have allegedly used disaster relief operations to engage in so-called premature campaigning.
In particular, Boto Patrollers singled out deposed president Joseph E. Estrada and Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr.
In his relief distribution activities, Mr. Estrada gave claim stubs to victims holed up in schools in San Mateo, Rizal east of Metro Manila, where 10 residents died and 19,524 families or 97,620 individuals were affected by Ondoy as of Sept. 28. This as the former leader has announced plans to run again for the presidency next year. A photograph of a stub, which bore the former president’s slogan, signature and picture, was uploaded on botomoipatrolmo.multiply.com by user urbanfinds.
Responding to the post, Eddieracho, another Multiply user, said: "All politicians take advantage of the situation. They do not choose the time..."
Multiply user hanspotterd13, meanwhile, said: "To the politicians — this is not the time to campaign."
Distribution system
In response, Estrada spokesman Margaux Salcedo told Boto Mo iPatrol Mo (BMPM) that the stubs were meant to maintain order in the distribution of relief goods. "This way, the goods will be given to those who are really in need instead of to those who line up repeatedly to receive aid...," she added.
The former president, Ms. Salcedo said, has been conducting such relief operations since he was mayor of San Juan in the 1970s. She added: "Everyone who gives out stuff also have their names on the stuff they give out," naming other individuals and groups, including ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya.
Villar’s rice
Another presidential aspirant, Mr. Villar, was also criticized for distributing food, rice and mineral water with orange stickers that either bear his name or photograph.
Patroller Hans Kristian posted on the BMPM Multiply group page a photograph of a rice pack with the Villar sticker that were distributed in Biñan, Laguna.
He noted that such efforts might have an impact on choices in the May 2010 elections. "It will be ingrained in the minds of those who got the relief goods that the rice which they ate after [storm] Ondoy came from [Mr. Villar]."
He further said: "I also want my fellow Filipinos to know that even if [Mr. Villar] is genuinely helping out, they shouldn’t have a debt to pay because to help is part of being a leader."
In a statement sent to abs-cbnNEWS, Mr. Villar hit back at critics of his initiatives to help Ondoy victims. "Distributing relief packs with my name and picture on it is not something I should be ashamed of or make excuses for," he said. "Besides, if the victims knew where the relief goods came from they would be assured that the contents are safe to eat or to use."
Big help
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, Patrollers have conceded that the politicians’ aid went a long way for those in dire need of assistance.
Hans Kristian said: "No matter who it’s from, we will accept [the help] with open hearts no matter if [the giver’s] intentions were clean or not because in times like these, our need supersedes all."
Multiply user edleedreams said Mr. Villar should be commended for his effort unlike other politicians whose tarpaulins don every street corner but are conspicuously absent during calamities. "Let us just accept [the assistance now but the elections is another thing]," he said.
Multiply user cesar26lag also said as much in Filipino in a post he wrote on Oct. 2. "It is okay even if they are engaged in politicking... at least they are helping. The others who engage in politics do not help in any way at all." — Julie Javellana-Santos, abs-cbnNEWS.com
source: business world online.com
