An Editorial of the Bohol Chronicle, May 2 2010The election scene in the city circa 2010 reminds one of the 1986 snap elections pitting the dictator Ferdinand Marcos versus the widow of a martyred senator Cory Aquino.
Patently, the choice was between good and evil. Like City Mayor Dan Lim, Marcos had the "gold" to buy people and the "guns and goons" to intimidate the electorate.
The people only had volunteerism, belief in the power of choice and faith in God. The rest, as the world now recognizes, was the historic return of democracy and free market in this country.
Station DYRD's popular "Radyo Merkado" yesterday surveyed the "fear factors" that may bedevil people come Election Day.
They centered on the woes of the city under siege, though some took note of some "risk concerns" of violence, as well, in the 2nd district where former Governor Rico Aumendato and Rep. Ondoy Cajes' wife is the surrogate opponent in a protracted Rico-Ondoy "political war" that is escalating.
Thirty four (34%) percent cited harassment by politicians and their armed goons (specifically in the city - the dreaded City Task Force), 29% (vote buying) and 9% (the risk of computer malfunction and electric power failure) as the major "fear factors".
The rest enumerated the lack of transportation in the hinterlands and the resulting "people power" if the true mandate of the people is being altered.
But every problem has a solution and with enough citizen willpower and Divine Grace, solutions are available. Take a look and note.
For harassment - always work in large groups whether in meetings or going to the precincts to vote and coming home - guarded by marshals and if possible led by priests, nuns, pastors or respected elderly in your communities.
Any violence the goons will do will be "blood on their hands" - and a looming new administration will brook no such nonsense, we are sure.
For those who purchase one's votes - accept the money but vote according to one's conscience. They have probably stolen money from government (through crooked deals and unliquidated advances) - and they will just be re-circulating money that properly belongs to the people, in the first place.
We know Comelec has standby computers - but just in case. People power, this time, means planning who will make available standby generators to keep the "light of democracy flickering" till the last voter has cast his democratic vote.
In case of retaliatory moves, let each leader have the phone lines to the Philippine army in the province as well as that of the PNP as the city PNP is under the baton of the City Mayor - and report the incidents.
If the PNP shows partisanship - report to Police Chief Verzosa or General Abner Cabalquinto for Police Personnel Affairs. Have their landlines, celphone numbers and email and fax addresses handy.
For those without transport in the hinter places, organize a transport brigade to alternately bring our poor fellow citizens to the polling place and back home. That is true community spirit.
And finally, when people feel that their true sentiments have been thwarted by whatever evil forces Satan's Brigade inflicted on the populace, by all means people should use their constitutional rights to seek redress against grievances.
Join "people power" marches and protest and do not allow those who cheated their way into office sit on the thrones they have illegally acquired. That is one's right and duty as a citizen of a free land.
An oppressed city needs men of bravery and spunk. With courage, borne out of God's grace, dare to cross the line of fear - and be counted.
Let us remember that "Bad men get elected (or reelected) into office because good men do nothing."
THE ROLE OF MEDIA
The obvious reason why City Mayor Dan Lim is allergic to media - is that it becomes a medium to expose the series of corrupt deals and practices and human right violations of his administration. And the election violations he may plan to perpetrate.
The pattern is there to see. From the violence against Choy Torralba to the assaults against Alba, Daarol, Requiron (father and son), Pabe and Cajes and the tax harassment against this twin media - one image of an insecure man whose mental dishonesty consists in trying to keep the debating hall -peopled only by his rah rah boys and sycophants. To the exclusion of all others.
Another pattern is also clear - when he punched broadcaster Torralba - the "bully" was surrounded by his bodyguards; today the intimidation is done with the aid of armed and dangerous men in his City Task Force.
People think broadcaster Atoy Cosap should accept the challenge for a fist fight launched by the City Mayor with one provision. City Mayor Dan Lim should get rid of all his goons and they walk - man to man - in the middle of the Garcia stadium - with nothing but their fists to do the talking.
Honestly, betting could be heavy that the athletic sportsman Cosap will be the one left standing after one minute - over the fallen opponent laden with morbid obesity.
And such is the future of tyrants.
The Ampatuans, drunk with power and hubris, ruled Maguindanao with force and intimidation for many years. Hubris also egged them to kill 57 innocent people and 30 media men (remember) who wanted to cover the Ampatuan's excessive show of force last November.
Well, the law has finally caught up with them. And there stands the apparently deranged Mayor Andal Ampatuan smiling like a jerk in his jail - where he is expected to rot for 10 lifetime terms.
Water, they say, will always seek its own level.
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