Start at the grassroots

With “only” three persons murdered on election day itself, and fewer than 20 since the start of the election period, the government happily declared last Monday’s barangay polls “successful” and “generally peaceful.”

In the traditionally violent Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), however, teachers assigned to election duties feared for their safety and didn’t show up at their assigned polling centers, forcing the cancellation of voting in 66 barangays.

Compared with previous elections in the ARMM, last Monday’s vote did look more peaceful and clean. Some reports attributed this to negotiations among political rivals to just take turns occupying the contested positions, allowing each aspirant to run unopposed.

Such negotiations have also been done in national elections, including the midterm polls last May. Check out the candidates who ran unopposed, or won by a landslide against token candidates, and you will have an idea of where such negotiations might have taken place.

There’s a debate on whether this is healthy for our democracy, dysfunctional as it is. In the ARMM, where the negotiations are not kept secret, defenders of the system say the deals greatly reduce the threat of violence. For rivals, it means avoiding a bruising campaign and saving on expenses.

What’s questionable in this setup is mostly in the realm of speculation. The aspirant who agrees to give way to a rival will have to wait three years for his turn. This being the age of instant gratification, and considering the quality of our politicians, it is reasonable to believe the one who withdraws will ask for a sweetener during the long wait.

Even in races for higher positions, there are individuals who announce plans to run mainly so they can be talked out – or more precisely, bought out – of the race. This early, we are hearing such noises coming from certain politicians mentioned as potential president or vice president in 2016.

Some of them are currently stuck in the pork barrel muck. In the unlikely event that they extricate themselves from the mess, it may be too late for redemption through the 2016 vote.

Politics is the art of the possible, and such election deals are not unique to the Philippines. But the deals, if they become as widespread as dynasty building, can deprive voters of credible choices. In an agreement to take turns at an elective post, the candidate who gives way is typically asked to support the rival, who will reciprocate in the next elections. Other qualified candidates who dare to oppose this united political front are likely to lose – unless they have the wattage of an entertainment superstar.

This situation is linked to the weakness of our political party system. In mature democracies, such negotiations generally occur within a party, with aspirants agreeing to withdraw or slide down to wait for their turn. This was the case with Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas in the 2010 race.

More often in our country, however, such negotiations eliminate opposition, which is always unhealthy for democracy. The system of checks and balances is short-circuited.

*      *      *

A credible opposition is needed especially if we want to include the barangay in the ongoing effort to make elective officials truly accountable to the public.

With the village polls held in the shadow of the pork barrel scandal, there are calls for a scrutiny of the way barangays utilize people’s money. Congress should review the Local Government Code and Malacañang should draw up executive measures that can compel transparency and accountability in barangay finances.

Auditing the finances of over 42,000 barangays may be overwhelming for the Commission on Audit (COA), whose hands are already full with the pork barrel mess.

Assistance in this task can be provided by vigilant citizens. The impetus for this is usually stronger among the opponents of incumbent officials.

Random lifestyle checks and tax reviews may be conducted, if only to send the message that relevant authorities are watching barangay officials.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has supervision over the barangays; it can initiate reforms to bring transparency to public fund utilization at the village level.

Is there political will for this? With even President Aquino looking at installing his handpicked successor in 2016, his party mates may have no appetite for alienating grassroots political leaders.

In many areas, the barangay races were proxy wars among higher ranking public officials who are preparing for 2016. These officials want to keep their village leaders happy, without the threat of losing the opportunities for personal enrichment and other perks enjoyed by barangay personnel.

Those perks are the reason people are willing to kill or be killed for an elective position in the barangay. Who will dare tell these village officials to say goodbye to all that? Anyone planning to seek high office in 2016 will consider it political suicide.

And yet if the daang matuwid administration means what it says, it must initiate anti-corruption reforms at the grassroots.

The best time to start is now, as the newly elected barangay officials assume their posts. Those on their third consecutive term, or who managed to cheat and win a fourth term, are a lost cause. But perhaps those who are new to the job will still be open to new ways of governance.

If we want a sea change in politics, it must start at the roots.

*      *      *

DEDICATED COPS: The Philippine STAR is grateful for the assistance provided by the Philippine National Police in the Operation Damayan relief effort for earthquake victims. Damayan, the humanitarian arm of the STAR group of publications, went to Bohol over the weekend. The group was assisted by the PNP in bringing 3,000 relief bags from the Loon port to the distribution center. The PNP team under Inspector Derick Bajenting Dura provided security to Damayan personnel and helped maintain order during the distribution.

“They were very helpful, courteous and professional, not just to us but also to the people affected by the earthquake,” STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte observed.

Dura, a 23-year-old native of Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, is a member of the Masaligan Class 2011 of the PNP Academy. After spending many hours with the Damayan team, Dura’s unit did not ask for anything in return.