For several weeks already, I have seen the propaganda of an incumbent Cebu City councilor hung at many prominent areas in the mountain barangays not excluding barangay halls. This advertisement reads “Register and Vote” and then his name is printed. One does not have to be an intelligent person to discern that this city councilor is asking people to register for this coming election and vote for him. A lowly farmer I happen to associate frequently with believes this is the earliest form of an election material he has ever come across. In the local papers the other day, the local opposition leaders have been quoted as seeing this gimmick too. Because of the obvious intention of this local legislator, the complain that these large and expensive ads made of tarpaulin constitute premature campaigning continues to circulate.
I do not exactly share the sentiments of the upper classmen of the city’s opposition although I hold their thoughts in high regard. To me, this act of the city councilor is not simply a case of “premature campaigning” minus the legalese, though myopic, conditions required to call it so. Much as I would like to join the opposition bandwagon criticizing the ingenuity of this councilor, I must find a more apt appellation to give.
The view of the election officials is technically correct. There is premature campaigning if a person has filed his certificate of candidacy and performs any act amounting to vote solicitation before the allowable campaign period. In all likelihood, this city councilor has not filed his certificate of candidacy yet because of many reasons among them his being like a buffoon who awaits for the signal of the show director. Not unless the director, who happens to be the city’s chief executive, says so, he is not certain that he can be a candidate for any office.
Just the same, while waiting for the imprimatur of the boss, he has to jump the gun. He needs to kick off the political starting block ahead of others. He cannot afford to wait for the starting signal or otherwise, he will enter the electoral race in just about a level playing field. Playing fair is, if rumors were to be believed, not his cup of tea. So, while the other prospects are busy organizing their strategies, albeit less openly, he takes his one bold step further. The dictionary calls this act one-upmanship.
So, am I giving this move of the honorable local lawmaker the more profound and hopefully the sociologically acceptable name of “one-upmanship” rather than the obnoxious term “pre-mature campaigning”? No, sir. I still don’t. The term I am prepared to attach to this innovative way adopted by the councilor is descriptive of the act. I call it “arrogance of power”.
The councilor knows that displaying streamers asking people to take specific political move like “vote …”, given the condition of his having yet to file his certificate of candidacy, does not constitute premature campaigning. Of course it is, by any means, premature campaigning. But he also knows very well that while it is not illegal, per se, it goes against the higher sense of morality. His explanation that he is doing what he is doing in the interest of public service is but a bs only justified by his position of some degree of power. In other words, he uses his position as a councilor to put up a legal cover to an otherwise illegal act. Is it not arrogance of power?
I have been hearing the legitimate commentaries of respected radioman Mr. Bobby Nalzaro. In no uncertain terms, Mr. Nalzaro, every now and then, tells us of the arrogant, if not abusive, ways of this councilor. While I did not have personal knowledge of those specific arrogant acts of this local legislator the radioman has been speaking out, the immoral display of advanced political advertisements takes the cake and beats them all.
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Email: avenpiramide@yahoo.com.ph