MikeLigalig.com

   The basic humanity in me cannot be fulfilled, and the primordial ends of justice cannot be served, without giving out this piece of the mind on the conduct of the last May 14 electoral exercise.
   Election has been beautifully defined and interpreted as “the process by which qualified voters exercise their sovereign authority through the ballot by means of which they choose their officials for definite and fixed periods to whom they entrust for the time being as their representatives the exercise of powers of government”.
   What took place last May 14 was never an election at all! A supposed election that never was! It was a deceptive façade of what really was the mandate of the ruling elite. The power brokers in government simply ordered the sovereign electorate to entrust to them the authority to exercise the powers of government. An unwaveringly principled friend, a stand-alone, said it more bluntly: “Through that May 14 electoral battle, I see no sovereign people, no nation, no democracy, no government. I see only the forces of evil with whom the people happily dance.”
   It is scandalously of public knowledge, but which Comelec and other law-enforcement agencies pretend not to know, that the last “election” turned out to be the holiday of criminals, particularly election offenders, beyond the reach of the law. Manipulations in the choice of candidates and political parties. Virtual “theft” in the procurements of Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA). Perjury in the filing of Certificates of Candidacy. Fielding of nuisance candidates, especially those with names similar to the credible ones. Treachery among supposed partymates on financial considerations.
   Worse was the rampant and pervasive vote-buying and vote-selling practically admitted by all sectors especially by the media, in violation of Section 261, paragraph (a) of the Omnibus Election Code. More brazen than in the previous elections, this violation involved thousands of pesos per voter. The Criminals among the candidates and the “hungry” among the electorate, blatantly shelved aside the law and disregarded prescriptions from the Church authorities. They played with fire and felt proud and happy doing it! 
   Commission of election offenses became the ”order of the day”, from the choice of candidates up to the voting and counting of votes. Yet, a great majority of the electorate found it “normal”, something that is generally accepted and no case for complaint.
   It was no election at all! What transpired was but an exercise wherein the ruling syndicate – The Regime—with the willing cooperation by its lapdogs in the local government units, selected persons from among their ranks who would hold the reins of a supposed government. Sulkingly, the exploited people willingly acceded to that illegal and immoral exercise. Helplessness has reared its ugly head.
   The painful lesson: people’s true sovereignty, authentic democracy, genuine national development, public welfare, justice and peace may no longer be attained through the ballot.
   Ultimate reflection: Where are we going, and what can we do? Is there still hope for deliverance within the ambit of law?
   God save us!

Bobby Cericos
Tagbilaran City,  17 May 2007


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Mga 'Sana/o .....

Hinaut dili unta mahimangud ang atong bangiitang arkitektong Lobocanon, si Bobby Cericos niining akong ubos nga komentaryo.

Hangtud sa panganod ang akong pagdayeg ni Angelo "Geloy" Balili (laing Lobocanon) sa iyang pagdumili mo-apil sa bugnong lugaynon dinhi sa ato bisan pa nga halos isupa kaniya ang pagka congressman sa terciro distrito. Ang iyang gipakita usa ka buhat nga matawag ug "highest degree of statesmanship" (however extremely wanting in another Lobocanon).

Ngano nga si Geloy wala motuman sa mga nagtsutsuwa kaniya? Matud niya sa iyang balibad nga namantala, dili niya matulon ang pamaagi sa pamulitika sa Bohol !!!!! 

Unta, wala na lang mag-usik ug panahon si Bobby sa iyang paglangsar pagka gobernador sa Bohol. Hinu-on, tingali hibalo na si Bobby ug unsay iyang dangatan. He might just be trying to prove a point! Pero, sa laing bahin iya lamang gihatagan ug bili ang kuno demokratikong pamaagi sa pagpili ug gobernador sa Bohol. Unfortunately, Bobby only lent an air of legitimacy to the democratic processs of elections in Bohol for governor when in fact it was already down the drain, considering that the Boholanos had been deprived of the right of choice after our political elite made their so-called "unity ticket" supposedly for Bohol's dev't and progress!

Ani-ay artikulo akong gisukip sa ubos. Palihug basaha ug pamaladongi .......
 

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A difficult process
Adrian E. Cristobal

Democracy makes possible the reform of institutions without using violence. — Karl K. Popper

Mr. Christopher Hill, the US Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, gave us something to think about when he said that democracy (is) a difficult process.

"Process" means a series of actions towards a particular aim. So if democracy is a process, its particular aim is a political society which promotes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Other desirable things follow: justice, equality, freedom, all of which are summed up in the Rule of Law.

Note, however, that despotism, the considered opposite of democracy, also have laws, but they are regarded by democracies as arbitrary or dependent on the whim and will of one man or group of men.

The immediate question, then, is what makes democracy a difficult process? Perhaps, that is not the correct question? Perhaps, the correct question is who finds democracy a difficult process?

Is it the people? I have heard ordinary citizens complain that what’s wrong with our country is "too much democracy," by which they mean their fellow citizens argue too much that they can’t unite for a common purpose. And what’s the common purpose? To move the nation forward.

If it’s the people who find the process difficult, is it because they don’t know what democracy should be?

How is that when it’s all there in our constitutions?

What makes the process so difficult when in fact we know or believe we know what democracy is all about? Are the people putting roadblocks to the process? Is it a case of the governed defying those to whom they gave their consent to govern — or the reverse?

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My friend Sir Bob knew beforehand he won't be buying fireworks after elections.

Entering politics after a long hiatus wasn't a bad idea at all.

I believe that Sir Bob wanted to know how many people were sick and tired of a traditional political system.

The votes gained by Bobby, I consider, are "protest votes." It doesn't really matter how many of these protest votes are. For me the most important thing is that despite the hovering darkness over our political situation there is still a man like Bobby Cericos who dared to challenge the present corrupt power.

To quote Edmund Burke: "Evil triumphs because good men do nothing."

P.S. - When I talk about evil power, I am also thinking of the more than P200-million Talibon Dam that went down the drain.

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Let it all out, Bobby. Have we just seen the how election in the Philippines will be defined in the years to come? Is this the inevitable road that our country must pass? Have we already lost it as a nation?

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why would they hide him if he has sickness, he shouldn't hide and he should be at his office to serve the people. Hahayyyy

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My secret source approached me when I visited Bohol last April. He said to me: "I have records of Erico's medical history, including the latest one, interesado ka mosulat?"

I said: "Sige ra, e-post ra na nako sa website. Wala naman gud ko sa mainstream media diri sa Bohol."

The people will know the real story - perhaps through here in Tubag Bohol.

I believe the people have the right to know the health status of their "public leaders/servants."

Our people can also pray for his illness, if there is any.

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If he couldn't act as governor anymore, the vice-governor will take over the empty seat.

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Oi, hapit na man 3 years old ni nga thread.

Fast backward, slow forward...

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kon naa ka sa political arena expect ka nga naa ka permi under the microscope and always bare in mind that you cannot please everybody, even your closest allies and relatives will even try to betray you.

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