EDITORIAL — One huge and costly mistake

For the reason alone that he has never previously held any significant elective position, Jonathan Guardo may be considered a political neophyte. But that is as far as the semblance of being fresh and uninitiated goes.

From the first moment that he burst into the political scene, Guardo, who is challenging the hold of Rep. Tony Cuenco in the south district of Cebu City in the May elections, has been quacking all over the place like a seasoned political duck.

As a political neophyte, Guardo may be forgiven for starting off on the wrong foot. But doesn't the guy have any political advisers? Or are his advisers just feeding him the usual traditional political menu because that is obviously what Guardo wants to chew?

Right now, everywhere you look, people are squirming in discomfort. They are gasping for breath. They are drowning in the inhospitable and unproductive murky depths to which traditional politics in this country has taken them. The national political scene is total madness.

If even only locally, people want change. They want a fresh start. But they are not getting that from Guardo. Guardo has apparently chosen to fight Cuenco in the traditional way. And that is a big mistake. Nobody beats Cuenco in his own game.

By choosing to anchor his challenge on mudslinging, Guardo has only proven that he did not do his homework. Cuenco is a veteran of many dirty fights and has proven his ability to survive them. What more of the same mud could Guardo hurl that Cuenco will not be able to parry?

If his advisers are worth the good money that he must be paying them, they should advise Guardo to show to the public what he can do that Cuenco cannot, or what Cuenco is already doing that he can do better. Unearthing worms in a garbage dump does not dazzle any fly.

For all his traditional politics, Cuenco still has done a lot of good for his district. Guardo must prove he can match it or do better. If he cannot offer something new and something better, why would people change what they already have for more of the same?