By Jose Ma. Montelibano
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:47:00 03/12/2010
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
In the alleged attempts to influence Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to stop the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar in the C-5 controversy and to make Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon withdraw from the presidential race, the phrase “not for sale” had been used as the reason why the two senators did not accept the offers. Of course, Manny Villar denied the allegations of Enrile and Gordon.
If Enrile and Gordon are not for sale, what about other Filipinos? If billions of pesos are being spent in the presidential campaign, what is the objective of that massive and almost vulgar spending? Would people spend monstrous amounts without trying to buy anything or anyone? Are politicians simply stupid that they will spend billions yet not want anything for all that money? Or, as is the popular belief, the presidency is worth everything one has because no single politician is richer than the wealth of the whole Philippines.
Because the electoral campaign is a contest, and because the presidency is the Olympus of positions with the greatest power and the authority to the greatest wealth, it is natural that aspirants to Malacañang have to do their best in convincing voters that they are the best choice. The effort to convince voters needs great sums of money because television and radio ads are the only way to reach tens of millions of voters.
Candidates and their parties have to raise funds for the campaign and the election. Fund-raising is the only way to afford a decent campaign for national positions, especially the coveted presidency. Fund-raising is also the only way for candidates to diffuse the challenge of producing from their own resources the amounts needed for the contest. In fact, some do not have resources at all yet must show capacity to get them or face disqualification for being nuisance candidates.
On the other hand, other candidates are rich, or very rich. They do not need to ask as much from other sources. If they are that rich, they even end up funding their political parties and the candidacies of other politicians. And if some candidates are really fortunate to be already in positions of power when they run for higher office or re-election, then additional resources and influence are also available to them.
The election laws are supposed to keep elections honest, peaceful and fair. They have not been able to do that, and have even become a farce. With all sorts of provisions to level the playing field, election laws today are silent victims to their own rape. With the wanton spending that is happening in the most recent elections, particularly the current one, it is obvious that laws are impotent and that those who are mandated to enforce them are as impotent, or simply corrupt. The spirit of the laws give way to the myopic, or malicious, interpretation of public officials entrusted with the authority to protect the purity of the spirit and the fidelity of application.
But the question is less if the Comelec is corrupt; rather, why would Comelec officials, why would members of the courts, why would the highest officials in the executive or legislative branches of government be corrupt? What is their temptation?
Of course, when one is corrupt, it is mainly because of greed. If the Philippines is now known to be a corrupt country, it is because many of its public officials, especially those who hold the highest positions, are greedy. Then, their greed makes them become blind to the suffering of the Filipino as a consequence of their corruption. Greedy officials are not only guilty of corruption, they are also traitors to the motherland and killers of their own fellow Filipinos. In their greed, though, they blindfold their consciences to the pain they inflict on those whom they are sworn to protect.
What the corrupt in government, and the corrupt who wish to be elected to government positions, are not blind to is the fact that many Filipinos are for sale. It is common knowledge, or common speculation, that the poor among the voters, are for sale. The most popular imagery of Filipinos for sale is the voter who will accept money in exchange for his vote. Yet, with classes D & E comprising more than 80 million Filipinos with about 40 million voters, it is obvious that direct vote-buying remains impossible as the main method of even the richest politicians. But if a candidate is willing to spend billions of his own money, then he must believe that his money can actually influence those votes to go his way.
Buying votes can be done in a number of ways, as many as the ways by which Filipino voters accept payment in cash or kind for their votes. Advertisements influence voters preferences, most especially voters who have less capacity to discern truth from lie. The most ignorant, the most gullible, and the least informed are the common victims of dishonest advertising – which is why there are efforts to demand truth from advertising. The inanity of many advertisements, however, have nothing to do with truth or lies. They simple pander to the baser instincts of human beings.
The most victimized in electoral campaigns, and on election day itself, are not the ignorant, gullible or uninformed, they are the poor and the very poor. They are manipulated to hope when there is no intent or possibility of that hope to be realized. Politicians with the aid of advertising agencies who also have blindfolded consciences exploit the need of the poor by pandering not only to sexual fantasies by presenting half-clad bodies or titillating actions but to dreams of having security through, homes, medical and educational facilities, and livelihood opportunities. Then, for the very poor, direct vote-buying is a usual practice. Yes, Mr. Comelec, up to today.
When great amounts are spent, especially from one’s own pockets from wealth made legally or illegally, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are for sale. When great efforts are made to violate or circumvent truth in advertising, or offer inanity to Filipino voters, there must be a fundamental assumption that Filipinos are easily fooled. When the political exercise is characterized by spending and dirty maneuvering, then the future for Filipinos is more corruption and more poverty. And the only antidote is for Filipinos to declare, “Pilipino Ako Not For Sale!”
http://opinion.inquirer.net/viewpoints/columns/view/20100312-258115/Are-Filipinos-For-Sale
