Have you ever imagined that candidates for the highest position of the land would stoop down to the level of challenging each other to sampalan, suntukan, and barilan? Not me. While I know that politics in this country leaves much to be desired, what we witnessed between administration bet Mar Roxas and Davao City’s Mayor Digong Duterte is simply too much.
Violence maybe a proven formula for a blockbuster teleserye or film production but can never be acceptable as an electoral campaign tactic. It is not acceptable under any circumstance, period. The recent exchanges between the two presidential aspirants reveal a very disturbing mindset—pa-machohan. As if a physical duel will prove who the better man between them is.
Do Roxas and Duterte really think that violent behavior is okay? Are they not aware that one problem we have in this country is the strong culture of violence that results not only on the too many cases of violence and abuse against women but also the high rates of criminality? To the uncritical mind, the antics of these two candidates reinforce the thinking that violence can be acceptable, that aggression is a desirable macho quality. This is infuriating.
For Duterte, this is nothing new. Such is the image he obviously cultivates and which, unfortunately, attracts people to him. I, however, hold Mar Roxas to a higher standard on matters like this. It was shocking to hear him respond with a counter challenge to Duterte. I thought Roxas knew better. I expected him to take the higher moral ground, like his slogan “daang matuwid.” But no, napikon at pumatol si Roxas. Or, perhaps he was thinking that what works for Duterte might also work for him. Unfortunately for them both, not a few voters got angry.
These two want to be president, yet their demeanor is very unpresidentiable. It is utterly disgusting.
They mock and insult the electorate. Do they think that the elections are a telenovela? Are they under the impression that what voters want is to be entertained? That we, the people, are so dumb that we will select our president on the basis of winning fist fights? No, sirs. You are gravely mistaken if this is the case.
A lot is at stake in the coming elections. The fate of more than 100 million Filipinos for the next six years depends on who our next public servants will be. The country’s directions will be determined by the next administration. The presidency, being the most powerful position, is most important. Instead of dumbing down the electorate, those who want to lead the country should be first to elevate this electoral campaign to one of discussion on platforms and programs. There is no room for those who want to settle differences through violence.
The country faces major challenges. We want to know how candidates will address these challenges and lead the people towards real peace and development that will redound to the common good. At the end of the day, the success or failure of every administration is how ordinary people’s lives have improved or worsened.
We want to know how our human rights will be protected, respected, upheld, and realized. Given the machismo displayed by many of our candidates, how do they regard women’s rights? Do they favor the re-enactment of divorce in the country? What about LGBT rights?
We want candidates to outline their economic platform. Will they follow the existing economic direction that makes the poor wait for forever for the gains to trickle down to them because the primary beneficiaries of our so-called economic miracle are those who comprise the top one per centum of our population? Or will they think out of the box and put Juan and Juana at the center of economic growth?
Will these candidates pursue the neoliberal model of free trade that places the country’s economy at the mercy of the big international corporations and producers of goods that we need and import for our consumption? Or will they protect and support local producers, our micro, small, and medium enterprises? Will they pursue the development of our own industries and invest more in improving our workers’ skills so they become competitive for gainful employment? What about productivity? What are their concrete plans to address this monstrous traffic problem in Metro Manila?
Will candidates still rely on our unofficial labor export policy? Are we going to continue to treat our labor force as commodities for export? Or will they now start creating a more conducive employment environment so our professionals will have second thoughts in leaving the country? It is very sad that the national ambition now is to get out of the country at the first opportunity.
We need candidates to inform us of their plans on our children’s and our people’s health and well-being. Will they fully implement the reproductive health law? How are they going to arrest the impending HIV and AIDS epidemic? The whole world is seeing a significant decline in maternal mortality rates and HIV and AIDS cases but these remain major problems here.
How will our candidates ensure that education is really a right and not a privilege? What plans do they have so the quality of education enjoyed by children of the rich can be approximated by the education provided to the children of ordinary Filipinos? We are tired of hearing candidates say that education is the great equalizer. We want to know how they are going to make this a reality.
How will our candidates deal with China’s aggression and incursions in our territory? We need to know our candidates’ proposals in responding to challenges at the international milieu.
What about our politics and government system and form? Duterte is an advocate of federalism. How does he propose to go about this massive change? What are the other candidates’ stand on parliamentary system and federal form of government? How about dismantling political dynasties? And, how are our candidates in relation with strengthening political parties?
I can go on and on. I have not even touched on graft and corruption. There are a lot of things that need to be discussed by and with our candidates. We do not need you to physically duel each other. We would rather have you fulfill your responsibility of explaining to us your platform of government.
Stop insulting the electorate. We are not dumb.
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