Readers look at the presidential aspirants

Romeo “Ronnie” Lising is a regular reader of this column. When we started featuring some of the leading candidates for the presidency, he sent me immediately his reaction. Before it gets too late, I am giving him – and two other readers – the space they deserve. Please read on.

“I read your column about Noynoy’s position with regards how he will run the country if and when he wins the presidential elections. With the fast approaching national and local elections, I can’t help but try to share my views about the anti-corruption platform and economic agenda of Noynoy’s group.

“First, Noynoy does not give any clear and specific policies and ways on how he would eliminate corruption in our country. His group’s agenda is only focused on blowing a lot of negative propaganda against our current leadership. His group does not offer concrete steps how he would run the government, improve our economy and eliminate or at least reduce corruption in our government.

“My view, I would say, is supported by his political advertisements which continuously relay to the public that he will not steal. But how [not to] is only up to us people to guess.

“Second, comparing the political advertisements of Noynoy, Erap and Villar, the ultimate message we can get from Noynoy and Erap does not point to where they want us to lead or to bring. In short, there seems to be a lack of goal, objective and vision for these two presidentiables, unlike in Villar’s ads where he directly pointed employment, housing, etc, etc.

“I am not a Villar die-hard electorate but am for wise and clear comparison of presidentiables. We can immediately see their visioning and positioning on what they want to do if and when elected.

“By the way, I have selected these three presidentiables since they are the frontrunners in the various surveys previously held and it seems to me that this election will be a three-cornered fight or perhaps even down to two.

Anti-political dynasty

“Third, nobody among the presidentiables or even the senatoriables have the guts to campaign for the passage of implementing a law to really push and implement the anti-political dynasty provision of our constitution. I truly and strongly believe that corruption won’t be eliminated in our country unless a true and honest anti-political dynasty law is provided.

“We all know that corruption is already part of our culture. We can only start eliminating it only when padrinos, kamag-anak, kumpadres and kapamilyas are also eliminated from our political system. I remember when Erap was elected president, his speech in the joint congress embodied this but unfortunately nothing ever happened.

“Imagine, it is only here in the Philippines that you will find the father as president, his son as senator and another son as mayor; or the mother as the president, and the son and the brother-in-law as congressmen!

“Likewise, a father senator and the son congressman whose term expired had switched positions. Of course, we also have the mother, son, brother and sister as honorable senators.

“Where else will you find a local government unit becoming a family affair? After the father runs the show, next is the mother, and then the son, and so on.

“It will look that of the 90 million Filipinos, only [these politicians] are knowledgeable and have the capacity to lead and govern? What a shame to us all Filipinos!

“How can you expect to stop corruption if we have all of these? Of course these politicos will surely protect their kapadrinos, kamag-anak, kumpadres and kapamilyas. We cannot stop corruption unless we eliminate kapadrinos, kamag-anak, kumpadres and kapamilyas in the political system.

“Who among the presidentiables and senatoriables will really push this law? I will vote for him since I truly and sincerely believe this is the only way to stop corruption. When we stop corruption, for sure, all the other segment of our economy will follow.”

Track record

Another reader, Roger Gaki, sent us his reaction to the last column (“Readers rally for Gibo,” The Philippine Star, March 1). Here are some of his thoughts about the exchange of comments by Star online readers, most of whom were supporting Gibo.

“I am from Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac, a 5th class municipality clustered with the 1st Congressional district of Tarlac, formerly the district of Gibo Teodoro, and now under his wife, Rep. Nikki Teodoro. 

“There is a rough macadam road that connects Nambalan in Sta.Ignacia; and Sulipa, and Tagumbao in Gerona. There is a river between Sulipa and Tagumbao. Unfortunately, there is no bridge that would allow travel between the two said towns during the rainy season.

“For us from Sta. Ignacia, when going to Baguio, for example, one must travel from Sta. Ignacia to Tarlac City (a distance of 25 kms) and Tarlac City to Gerona (a distance of 15 kilometers) before we are on our first leg to Baguio.

“[All in all], we have to travel an extra 40 kilometers. If only a bridge (I reckon it is 250 meters at most) is existent in Tagumbao, we would travel a shorter distance, and save an hour of travel time.

“Sta.Ignacia is one of the biggest towns in terms of land area, but has the poorest economy (all agricultural). I believe you will understand my concern in having that bridge in Tagumbao.

“Why didn’t Gibo Teodoro, in his nine years of being the congressman, and Nikki in her three years, did not build that bridge. If that is the kind of vision and leadership that Gibo offers, I would rather vote for Noynoy.

“Noynoy, in his nine years, has connected all the towns in his district, and I could see that the roads and other infrastructures would last for a long time. 

“Mr. Gamboa, you can forward this to Gibo Teodoro. But, I will be happier if you can include this thread in a future column of yours so more of your readers would appreciate, or come up with an informed choice if theirs is between Noynoy and Gibo. More power to your column!

Voting wisely

Finally, from Wilson, a strong reaction to one of the online Star readers rooting for Gibo:

“My first choice among the presidentiables is Gibo. My choice between the two leading contenders is Noynoy. My last choice among the presidentaibles is Villar. If I insist on voting for Gibo, this might increase the chance of Villar in winning. I’d rather settle for my second choice (Noynoy) rather than risking Villar being our president.

“This is not ‘old fashion voting’ but ‘voting wisely’.”

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25^th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.