PH’s rotten political system: What can we do?
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:36:25 +0000
NO politician takes office without the consent of the voters — the legal majority or plurality votes allowed by the Constitution as well as their abstentions. Voters take responsibility, however, only for the good ones. The electorate that voted for those who won, including the apathetic ones who stayed home, deserve what we get. Only those who did not vote for those who won but whose performance remains unacceptable feel very strongly that they don’t deserve what the nation got. Meanwhile, the entire nation suffers. The present case is a classic lesson for us.
Today, the nation is witnessing the effects of an increasingly demagogic politics with President Rodrigo Duterte’s win, by plurality vote. Campaigning as a demagogue, he has often governed as a demagogue. His war on drugs, which has descended into a bloody killing spree through EJKs, is but one example of how the rule of law has deteriorated in a few months. Also, without regard to diplomacy, Duterte has publicly insulted state leaders, including the universally revered Pope Francis. There is a deliberate attempt to bring down the moral authority of the universal church, the Catholics. Public insults, threats to kill the leaders of the Church continue. And yet, his popularity rating remains high at 73 percent!
Our country’s identity
The Philippines is a multi-faith, predominantly Christian, nation in Asia. Christ Jesus is central to the Christian faith. But Christianity is mocked by some because they do not see Christ’s values lived out!
In my early 30s, Indonesia was the No. 1 corrupt nation in Asia. Now that I am in my 75.5 years, I see greed and corruption in our country continuously progressing. In fact, greed and corruption have considerably worsened. Today, graft and corruption in our country exceeds that of Indonesia. Why? That’s because majority of Filipinos have not been serious enough to consider election as a great chance to effect real change in our country. Vote buying remains rampant. Political dynasties flourish. Election time has become more of an entertainment event. Political candidates are chosen based on popularity to increase their chances of winning. Politicians dictate the outcome of political events through their campaign strategy and gimmicks. Those who have the support of the party with the funds are bound to win election. Hence, morally weak candidates, desperate to win, align with the party in power. They are forced to compromise their principles and even find a way to defend wrong principles to ensure they maintain the party’s support.
For example, Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara and others in the party of President Duterte have come out with public statements rationalizing what, to me, is unacceptable about Sara Duterte’s boldness in saying to the public: “In politics, honesty is not that important”! To supporters, President Duterte has become the role model—the best president that the Philippines ever had! Exasperation, desperation and impatience for real change has gained considerable ground. Their language becomes the norm to gain real change! Professional fake news or trolls to gain the support and sympathy of the public were indiscriminately hired. The apathetic electorate becomes easily swayed. The more appealing language now are mostly about the opposite of what is good, just and right. Indecency is preferred to decency. Decent and highly respected people are blamed by the President’s group as the bane of society. Society has degenerated so much. Something must be done to reverse this situation. And election of decent officials with integrity and competence is a key solution.
I am certain that some of our electorate choose officials with integrity and competence. Eventually, some of them become part of a corrupt system. Nevertheless, people should not fear making mistakes in their choice. We should never get weary of choosing men and women of integrity to restore decency and order to our society.
Value of a transformed nation, Christian in spirit
A nation, Christian in spirit is not enough. It must live out the values of a Christian spirit, mainly remaining steadfast in pushing for what is right and decent in the ways of God.
Some say that for corruption to be eliminated, we must first fix our political system. I say that, for as long as we continue to elect corrupt officials, corruption will persist.
Exasperation, desperation and impatience with a rotten political system must never be an excuse to start committing wrong. There is no substitute for remaining loyal to the principles of righteousness and decency.
Let’s say we choose a leader, or a president with the integrity and competence who is not corrupt, and who has the political will to get rid of corruption. Chances are, we will start to see the gradual conversion of our “rotten political system” into a transformed, new system, gradually eliminating graft and corruption. Eventually, our rotten political system will be fixed. By example, a transformed president, with more men and women of integrity and competence, will take care of fixing our political system. Is this possible?
As much as it is an exciting “job placement” process, the May 13 elections will be a true measure of the people’s actual view of the acceptability of this administration’s crude conduct. For President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies, entering midway through his six-year term, the May 2019 elections would be the administration’s more definitive way of assessing the support of the masses and gauging the President’s popularity. With his failed “drug war,” Chief Justice Sereno’s removal, the shady ways of dealing with government finances, and even the South China Sea debacle, do the people still trust President Duterte? Has his popularity waned?
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