ANALYSIS
Run-up to the
2007 Elections
Philippine elections have always been tainted with fraud, marred by
violence, dominated by political dynasties, and characterized by broken
promises of politicians. It has never resulted in the betterment of the
lives of majority of the Filipino people. But the way things are shaping
up, this may be the worst elections yet.
BY BENJIE
OLIVEROS
Bulatlat
Two
months to go and the May 2007 elections is already taking on a distinct
character. First, this appears to be heading toward the most lopsided
senatorial elections in Philippine history, with the administration ticket
apparently on the losing end. Surveys and mock elections consistently show
the Genuine Opposition (GO) winning majority of the seats. Worth noting
also is that the winning candidates from Team Unity are those who have
taken a critical position with regard to the policies of the
administration such as Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto, and one who used to
be identified with the opposition, Tito Sotto.
Second,
political feuds are fast heating up even before the start of the campaign
period for the local elections. As early as December 16, 2006 Abra Rep.
Luis Bersamin, Jr. was killed. And the feuds are not only between
candidates affiliated with the administration versus those in the
opposition, but also within the ruling coalition, Lakas-CMD versus Kampi,
the party of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and within Lakas as well.
Local
politics, of course, have always been ruled by guns, goons, and gold, and
are therefore violent. Likewise, it is not national politics which dictate
on local politics; on the contrary, the fate of politicians running for
national posts depends on who is being supported by the dominant clans in
the provinces and municipalities.
But
gauging by what is at stake in the 2007 mid-term elections - the fate of
the Macapagal-Arroyo administration - this coming May portends to be a
more hotly-contested and therefore bloody elections.
Third,
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has made some motions of being
vigilant. It has been strict in regulating billboards and posters, and
banned the use of campaign T-shirts bearing candidates’ names. While
campaign posters pasted everywhere may not be pleasing to the eyes,
posters and T-shirts are the only means poorer candidates and parties can
project themselves. It is only the moneyed political clans who can afford
regular television and radio plugs.
More
serious violations
The poll
body seems to be turning a blind eye, however, on more serious violations
of the election code. COMELEC Chairperson Benjamin Abalos merely laughed
when shown a video of Chavit Singson giving out money. He promised to
conduct an investigation a day after it was shown the video. But far worse
is that it doesn’t lift a finger on the obvious attacks of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on progressive party-list groups
especially Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses),
Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan. By doing so, the AFP seriously
violates the law by engaging in partisan politics and by terrorizing
voters.
Never
has been a party so vilified and attacked as what is happening now to
progressive party-list groups. Its experience is comparable only to that
of the Democratic Alliance (DA) of the late 1940s and the Partido ng Bayan
(PnB or People’s Party) during the 1987 elections. The winning candidates
of the DA were prevented from taking their seats in the first Congress
until after the Parity Amendment, which grants equal rights to American
businessmen as Filipinos, was passed. They were accused of being
affiliated with the Huks (short for people’s army) and of terrorizing
communities into voting for them. Members of PnB were also targeted and
its candidates were victims of the worst form of vote shaving then. One
incredible case is that of a PnB senatorial candidate who received no
votes in his own hometown.
Bayan
Muna (BM), Anakpawis (AP), Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), Kabataan
(formerly Anak ng Bayan), and Suara Bangsa Moro are the subject of a
persecution campaign of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. BM, which
topped the party-list elections in 2001 and 2004, has the most number of
victims of extrajudicial executions – more than 120. Together with AP and
GWP, BM is the subject of a disqualification case with the COMELEC on the
trumped up charge of ordering the killing of two persons and the use of
funds for the New People’s Army (NPA). Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran is
languishing in jail for rebellion since February last year. Warrants of
arrest were likewise issued against BM Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño,
and Joel Virador, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, and GWP Rep. Liza Maza in
2006. But they were able to elude arrest and the warrants were rescinded.
Another warrant of arrest was recently issued by a judge in Leyte against
Ocampo for allegedly ordering the killing of persons in a purge that
allegedly happened in 1984. This charge was even made more ridiculous by
the fact that Ocampo was in detention at that time.
There
were reports that AFP troops in the provinces were listing down all those
who voted for the progressive party-list bloc, making them “surrender,”
and warning them from joining these groups. Despite repeated denials from
the AFP, soldiers were recently caught in a video actively campaigning
against these party-list groups in the National Capital Region (NCR or
Metro Manila).
Opposition
With
signs of the electorate’s preference for the opposition and the
progressive party-list groups at a time when the survival of the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration depends a lot on the outcome of the midterm elections; the
hotly-contested local elections which has a history of violence; the
predisposition of COMELEC, which still has to gain the public trust after
the “Hello, Garci” scandal during the 2004 elections; and the continuing
systematic attacks on progressive party-list groups, the May 2007 midterm
elections is shaping up to be the most controversial and violent in
Philippine history.
Philippine elections have always been tainted with fraud, marred by
violence, dominated by political dynasties, and characterized by broken
promises of politicians. It has never resulted in the betterment of the
lives of majority of the Filipino people. But the way things are shaping
up, this may be the worst elections yet. Bulatlat
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