NOW COMES this other “shocker” in this election period.
Two columns ago, we wrote about the delisting of two elderly beneficiaries of the government’s “ayuda” program. The delisting was caused by the failure of the two senior qualified recipients to get their P5000 “ayuda” due to the two persons’ physical condition on the day set for the payout.
So, in the promised another “ayuda” payout, the two were told by the coordinator of the candidate who supposedly “facilitated” the release that they are no longer included.
Meanwhile, the committed “ayuda” was set for release a few days before the May 12 election. Again, according to a beneficiary who dropped by our little cold snack establishment, the amount promised was still P5000. But lo and behold, when he and several others went to the house of the candidate’s coordinator to get the promised “ayuda” they were so dismayed as the amount released was only P500.
They claimed they were told by the coordinator that he (the coordinator) had no hand in the preparation of the minute brown pocket envelope where the amount of P500 was placed instead of the promised P5,000 committed. They said they were shocked upon knowing the actual amount of the “ayuda.” But they said what further shocked them more was the statement of the coordinator that they can decide who to vote for finally, instead of egging the “recipients” to vote for the candidate who facilitated the release of the “ayuda.”
We do not really know if the candidate concerned has prior knowledge of the scheme being resorted to by his trusted persons in the field. Clearly, by doing that kind of deception to the electorate, the candidate’s leaders are hoping to win them over to their patron’s side. However, they seem not to know they are dragging their candidate down.
On the other hand, if the candidate concerned is aware of these boodling ways of his leaders, then what moral ground does he have to claim an honest governance if even before the voting he already manifested willingness to tolerate the wrongdoings of his trusted men?
Frankly, this manner of deceiving the voters will only further bury the candidate in the muck. Given the present political situation in Davao City, it is clear that the chances of the candidate concerned winning in the political battle are quite nil. But as we said in our previous column, “miracles” can still happen by the time the voters are out there in their precinct.
Yes, if one is really a keen observer of the results of surveys conducted as to voters’ preferences, there is a huge number of undecided. If they opt to vote for the concerned candidate instead, then the “miracle” that many are hoping to happen will eventually come to fruition.
Unfortunately for the politician concerned, what the men and women entrusted to work in the community are doing is revealing the kind of governance the concerned candidate will have should he win in the May 12 electoral contest.
If the said candidate has allowed and tolerated deception during the campaign period just to get the support of the constituents, then the same deceitful governance will prevail and be perpetuated.
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Now comes the challenge by Vice Mayoral candidate Dr. Bernie Al-ag to his fellow candidates, especially insinuating his rival Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, to undergo a drug test. This one makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, the challenge came quite late already.
Had the dare been made much earlier, Dr. Bernie could have generated a good jump-off point for public discussion and for him to get a good media mileage. But with barely a day before the end of the official campaign period, his nemesis can easily ignore the challenge and dismiss it as last last-ditch effort to survive an onslaught.
In the remaining day–or hours–of the campaign, the challenge will hardly make even a slight dent on the advantage already enjoyed by Al-ag’s opponent.
Honestly, we believe that Councilor Al-ag has no adviser to guide him on what to take up in his campaign and how and when to communicate the same to the people.
Personally we think that the first district alderman is a very capable and honest person. He can very well do the job of a vice mayor. He was once into it. However, he seems to forget that his candidacy would have been on better footing had he consulted a wide range of people with expertise in the communications process.
But it is already too late for him to make adjustments.
