How big a factor will guns, goons and gold be in the May 2010 polls?

Ric Santolorin, Metro Manila: These will play a very big factor and can help determine our next president, should the government be powerless against it.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: The 3Gs have been a natural component of Philippine politics since time immemorial. If you are yearning to change the ingredients, pray hard for a miracle.  

Poll automation will lessen it

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: The 3Gs used to be the greatest factors in winning elections but poll automation, hopefully, will curb their influence.  

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: The 3Gs will be very insignificant, except probably in remote places and the countryside. With the full automation of the 2010 elections, I believe the 3Gs can no longer succeed. We are now more vigilant than ever. Our law enforcers will not let corrupt politicians push through with their plans. They will be in full alert for any eventuality before and after the voting. We’ll have peaceful elections.  

Gold is king

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: This coming May 2010, guns and goons will be things of the past, but gold will be an important factor in influencing election results. When politicians change and serve as role models in the pursuit of excellence and service and guide us through God’s pathway to life, gold will cease to be the determining factor in election results. But if politicians and government employees can still cheat, why can’t I?  

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Guns and goons are ineffective nowadays, though gold still gets the votes. The more disturbing factor is that certain members of the media are intent on swaying public perception through biased reporting.  

Patrick Miranda, Marikina City: I’m not sure about how much guns and goons will be used. What is so evident is the use of too much gold. Just pay attention to the airwaves, the posters around us, etc.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Guns, goons, mayroon pa ba noon? As for gold, many are waiting and asking, how much kaya ngayon?  

Herculano Babatido, Misamis Oriental: The biggest factor that will decide the elections is the systematic distribution of money and the commitment of voters.  

Elmo Cruz, Manila: In peaceful areas, like the City of Manila, only gold may influence level D and E voters, but in hot spots, guns and goons may not only influence the elections but also trigger bloodshed.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: So far, it’s Villar who has and is fully utilizing to the hilt the third G  gold. Guns and goons may be things of the past now, except in election hotspots.  

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: I don’t see their widespread use now, except for the third G, gold, which started flowing a long time ago. But you can be sure that there will still be sporadic incidences, especially in remote places, where the 3Gs will still be employed by some warlord politicians who, for one reason or another, do not fear a military reprisal. Right now, in many places and as seen in Metro Manila, it is the use of the third G that is very obvious. We can only hope that the use of guns and goons will be contained by the military so that we can have peaceful elections in this historic advent of automation in our country. My countrymen, let’s pray for that.  

Felix Ramento, USA: Sad to say, these evil instruments will still mar the integrity of the May 2010 polls, what with all the gold being flaunted by one extremely determined presidential candidate.  

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: Advances in communication may lessen the prevalence of openly using guns and goons in remote areas. Gold will covertly matter most in depressed areas.  

Keys to winning an election

Nony de Leon, Malolos City: The 3Gs will still be a big factor in some local elections. At the national level, it will be money lavishly spent, an obviously biased media, and an efficiently functioning machinery that will largely determine who will win.  

Pinoys will vote on conscience and integrity

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Filipinos will be voting on matters of principle, conscience and integrity, not guns, goons and gold. It’s a tough job, but if more of us work together to ensure that transactional politics is put to an end, then this country will be a much better place.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: No, no matter how dirty our elections may be, democracy and our freedom to choose our own candidates will still prevail over guns, goons and gold.  

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: The traditional 3Gs will play a big factor, but God and the goodness in men are bigger.  

They’re part and parcel of our national elections

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Gold that goes with goons with guns is the god of the impoverished, the ignorant and the corrupt.  

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: The 3Gs have been part and parcel of our national elections since the Marcos era; hence, it will be a big factor in the coming May 2010 polls. Many of our candidates secretly employ private armies, although perhaps not so glaringly this time, due to the case of the Ampatuans in Mindanao.  

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: These will still play a role in influencing the May 2010 polls. Our only hope is to have clean, peaceful, orderly and honest elections.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Guns, goons and gold will dominate the May 2010 polls once more.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Yes, as long as traditional politicians rule our country, the use of the 3Gs will reign with impunity. We cannot attain political maturity with these trapos.  

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: In a democractic system, the 3Gs will continue to dominate the so-called electoral process of a developing country. Distrust in the present political exercise is on the rise. If Pinoys find small businesses and jobs to help them improve their economic status, electoral and political reform will follow.  

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Very much. Guns and goons can intimidate voters to elect undesirable candidates, while money can spell a big difference on the eve of election.  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: The 3Gs will always be too big a factor, not only in polls but also in big business. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.  

Mark Kevin Santos, Nueva Ecija: These 3Gs could destroy the elections  something that most of us expect.  

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: Guns, goons and gold are usually prevalent in local elections as they would be this May. Expectedly, people who do not fear God and who do not honor lives will again use these. So what’s left for us? Let us choose godly people to lead us, whether nationally or locally.  

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: A lot of guns-for-hire are making hay as the election fever rises, while print and broadcast media’s political ads are polluting the air and landscape with jingles, ads, commercial, posters and crap. Paid two-bit entertainers, as well as A-listers who are available to the highest bidder are doing their thing in sorties. Thanks to unscrupulous politicians who use guns, goons, gold and glitter as weapons to amass votes, they’re alive, well and still going strong in 2010.  

The PNP should be vigilant

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: The PNP should be vigilant in controlling guns and goons, and let the gold flow to the palms of the poor. They are smart enough to take bribes and yet vote who they want.  

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: If the AFP and PNP remain professional, guns and goons wouldn’t count for much. But gold definitely will be a factor.  

More evident in rural areas

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: The 3Gs will definitely play a big factor for candidates to win in this year’s elections, more especially in remote areas of the country where warlords still reign. It is in these areas where the Comelec and the PNP should be more vigilant. In Metro Manila and other urban centers, it will be money that will determine the winner, especially in the depressed areas. Even this early in the campaign, there are already reports that certain candidates are giving out money to voters in some depressed areas of Metro Manila. I just hope that the electorate will be wiser this time. Don’t sell your vote. Get the money, but vote according to your conscience.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: The 3Gs won’t be a factor in the metropolis and in most urban areas. However, voters expect intimidation in places infested by private armies and NPAs.  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan: It’s bigger than we think. It’s a winning and tested formula of unscrupulous politicians that even automation will be helpless to eradicate. Believe it or not, in the few days and up to the last minute of the campaign period, the 3Gs usually operate and intensify in rural areas where security forces are not available. Thus, on the day of reckoning, the affected voters who turn into Judases will vote for the likes of the devil.  

Ed Alawi, Davao City: The 3Gs is still a big factor in rural areas where government officials maintain private armies despite the automated election process. In urban areas the influence of the 3Gs will be ineffective on idealistic young and new voters, more so now that voting is automated.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: In hotspot areas, particularly Maguindanao, the 3Gs can make even a mentally retarded candidate win  and yes, drug money, too!  

Voter/Candidate qualifications must be upgraded

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Until such time that the qualifications of voters and candidates are upgraded, the 3Gs would remain a big factor in manipulating Philippine elections, even in automated polls. Literate voters, even in places like Maguindanao, will be so united that they wouldn’t be coerced by guns and goons and tempted by gold. On the other hand, candidates with integrity will not resort to dirty tricks or violence.  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Until the day Filipinos learn not to be coerced into voting for candidates against their will or conscience, the 3Gs will still rear their ugly heads to influence the vote come May 2010.  

They remain big assets to win RP elections

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Traditionally, these are means to win in elections. We have yet to completely witness a cultural shift wherein we would vote based on skills, experience, educational qualifications and ethics. In the 2010 elections, these are again assets for winning.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: We don’t like that the 3Gs will dominate the scene this coming May 2010 polls, but some of our candidates will most likely use them to win, especially in the countryside. It is sad to note this in an educated and a modern society.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The 3Gs always play an important role for the rich and influential people. This is their means of staying in power and sowing terror.  

The 3Gs plus a “Hello, Garci?” can guarantee a win

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: The 3Gs, plus, under the right circumstances, a “Hello, Garci?” type call from the appropriate person, can guarantee a win for any candidate.  

Rene Poder, Manila: We can now add a 4th G: A grave-digging backhoe.  

We’re helpless against the 3Gs

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Guns, goons and gold have always been a big factor in Philippine elections and Comelec-designated enforcers can’t seem to or won’t find an antidote.  

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Guns, goons and gold will continue to prevail in the May 2010 polls simply because the Comelec has failed to implement its laws and the electorate cannot distinguish who is evil and who is tainted.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: With good and peace-loving citizens powerless to affect a citizen’s arrest, the elections will be decided mainly by guns, goons and gold.  

Our brand of politics is a dirty game

Romeo Caubat, Masbae: Since our brand of politics is a dirty game, our May 2010 polls will be dirty again. Therefore, guns, goons and gold will reign supreme!  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Guns, goons and gold are indispensable factors in the formula of political Al Capones and Ma Barkers in running for high-ROI elective positions. Despite the publicized presence of foreign observers for coming May elections, incumbents will find ways to use these tools so as not to fall from the tiger lest they be devoured by it. GMA already did it last year in her provincial district with the use of people’s gold, didn’t she? If I recall correctly, she pampered congressmen with our gold through the pork barrel. Yes, guns, goons and gold will play crucial roles with the incumbent Barkers and Capones. A dying snake bites deepest, doesn’t it?  

THE WAY I SEE IT

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: Marlene Aguilar says that the Quezon City jail is dangerous to her son. Doesn’t she realize that not all those incarcerated in jails have killed people? Unproven or not, her son had been involved in 2 killings, including a shootout in their house with lawmen. Is she really that stupid & blind to make illogical statements simply because Ivler is her son? Doesn’t she realize that her son is more dangerous to productive people outside the prison? This woman is dangerous herself.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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