When politicians take advantage of calamities

One of the most blatant and callous audacities of traditional politicians is to use ongoing calamities and disasters as platforms for their perennial "epal" publicity stunts. They come with a coterie of their PR staff and some alleged "envelopmental reporters" to be photographed and interviewed on air while distributing sardines and rice purchased with public funds.

These are the worst forms of cheap and shameless politicking. They want to earn "pogi" points by using government-funded aid. The Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies should not allow themselves to be used and their agencies to give aid and comfort to these modern-day scribes and Pharisees who are just out to show off their pretended compassion and generosity at the expense of public funds. These trapos already used the AICS, AKAP, TUPAD, 4P's and other government dole-outs allegedly in the last elections. Now, the same self-righteous and pretentious trapos are using the disasters and calamities as occasions to gain publicity stunts.

Even more reprehensible is the alleged corruption in the acceptance, allocation, and distribution of relief goods. There were reports of some high government officials receiving dollar contributions from other countries given by foreign charity organizations and private individuals but these ended up in the pockets of the said corrupt public officials. These are unforgivable offenses against the poor victims of disasters and calamities and should be considered crimes of economic sabotage to be punished with capital penalties. Others do not really pocket these aid funds but channel them to their favored constituents and local political leaders.

When traditional politicians suddenly appear in disaster-stricken areas and interfere in the distribution of goods and services to the victims, they usually come with their PR staff who coordinate with the local print and broadcast media reporters to give maximum coverage to these trapos. They make sure that these politicians are interviewed so that the whole nation shall know that they "care" for the people in distress. These super-rich trapos often come in their own choppers or in air assets borrowed from rich flood-control contractors. They exert utmost efforts to project an image of concern and care for the people using public funds in their transportation and representation.

Then, after a brief photo shoot, they would immediately leave and most probably go to the nearest resort to relax, eat, drink, and be merry with their local leaders and perhaps some naughty girls or very young boylets. These standard operating procedures are being repeated whether in the typhoon-stricken province of Masbate or the earthquake-hit northern Cebu. Many LGU officials are always in a hurry to declare their provinces, cities or municipalities under a state of calamity so that they can get hold of the huge calamity funds. Well, nothing wrong with that if they will really use the money for the intended purpose. But, we all know what usually happens.

There should be a law explicitly prohibiting politicians from interfering in acceptance, allocation, and distribution of relief funds. Also, any interference by a politician in the management and coordination, distribution, and safekeeping of relief goods and relief funds. The current practices by trapos in using calamities as platforms for political gimmickry should be criminalized. Trapos should be jailed for taking advantage of calamities and disasters as a platform for their traditional politics. They should be exposed and shamed for their audacious abuse of powers and public funds.

We, the "hoi polloi" should resist the abuses of dirty politicos and stand up against the shameless antics of trapos. We should start objecting to any attempt to make fools out of victims of disasters and calamities. It is high time that good men and good women stop evil deeds to proliferate in our times and milieu. They cannot fool all the people all the time. When politicians take advantage of calamities, we, the people, should stand up to denounce it.