EDITORIAL - "Cleaning up for a Better Nation"

Sim Kintanar wants his old representation of the 2nd congressional district back. And he has an advocacy that just might help him do that. That is if, as he says, the small flame he is starting will grow into a big fire.

Kintanar, who used to be congressman of the 2nd district for three terms, has been going the rounds — first the Church, then the academe, and now the media — promoting an advocacy he prefers to call “Cleaning up for a Better Nation.”

The ultimate goal of his advocacy is akin to the goals set forth by President Aquino when he first campaigned for the presidency. And Kintanar says it is also greatly inspired by the “matino at marunong” type of governance exhibited by the late Jesse Robredo.

Kintanar wants to start off with clean and honest elections. He believes that if the honest choices of people get reflected in the ballot — meaning they are not influenced by money in vote-buying — then people can elect the leaders they truly want.

Without vote-buying, the playing field is leveled, and people who normally shun political office, not because they are not qualified but because they do not have the money to credibly win an election, can now have the chance to offer themselves for public service.

According to Kintanar, as things stand now, public office is only available to those who have the money to engage a well-oiled campaign machinery and mount a thorough and aggressive campaign.

Those who are otherwise highly qualified and would have made great leaders are forced to watch from the sidelines and let their talents fall into disuse for no other reason than the inability to wage a decent campaign.

Once vote-buying is eliminated, Kintanar believes officials truly elected in accordance with people’s wishes will not be beholden to anyone and will not be under pressure as to where to find the money to fund the next campaign.

Without such pressures, the temptation to steal will be eliminated and officials will have greater latitude in performing the tasks expected of them. When officials start performing according to their mandates, governance and leadership get better and the country moves forward.