Letter to the Editor – GMA not the most qualified

Your 8/20/2005 editorial calling on all Cebuanos to unite "in defending the integrity of Cebu against allegations by the political opposition that massive cheating occurred in the island in favor of the President" is well-taken except that I wish to inquire if the opposition has accused all Cebuanos to be cheats. If they do, then they are being unfair. However, I believe that they have been saying that the last election was rigged by few rotten souls. Central to their question is not GMA's victory over FPJ itself but her lead. Let's allow them to prove their allegations, if they can.

Moreover, I agree that many Cebuanos have the political maturity and intelligence. But for you to refer to GMA as the most qualified was, at the very least, funny and at the most, myopic. Even many GMA diehards agree that it was the late Senator Raul S. Roco who was the most qualified. I need not discuss his impressive qualification. It was just unfortunate that he didn't have money and the support of political dynasties.

Lastly, I could not reconcile why allegation of cheating be linked to Cory Aquino's call for the president to resign. Aquino, if we take a closer look on her statement, has distanced herself from commenting on the truthfulness - or lack of it - of the things hurled against the incumbent president. Ergo, it is quiet unfair on her part for anyone to stampede her into helping any attempt to repudiate the opposition's allegations. Let's respect her decision. She knows when to stand for the truth. That she benefited from the Cebuanos' great love for freedom and democracy does not rob her of her right to stick to her convictions - contrary they may be to the taste of other people.

In short, there have been no allegations that Cebuanos are cheats in general. It's untrue that GMA was the most qualified candidate last elections. It is unfair on Cory Aquino's part to be stampeded or dragged into the issue of electoral fraud.

God bless the Philippines!

Alvin A. Truya
Suba, Cebu City