Corruption starts at election

Mariano Carrasco

WHEN corrupt public officials are elected during elections through corrupt means, we would always have corrupt governments.

It is therefore important that elections should be clean and closely guarded and watched by Comelec and the electoral watchdogs, the public, and the police. Since vote-buying is the most corrupt  practice, the most effective way to stop it is to arrest the vote buyers who would be carrying lists of pre-selected voters and bundles of money on the eve of the election. Most corrupt candidates would wait for the last minute to determine how much the other candidates have been giving out as bribes and which areas—so they could surpass the amounts or give more or adjust the amount of bribes.

The vote-buyers would always claim that the lists and money are intended as payment for the watchers and for their transport and  food allowance. But that is a lame excuse. They should have done the payments during the day, not under the cover of darkness. At any rate, that is only a matter of defense, and they could just present that as their defense when they are arrested and brought to court. The presumption should be in favor of clean elections.

During the campaign or pre-campaign period, the electoral process is corrupted enough. So much money, food, tents and shiny tarpaulins, radio and TV ads has been given out or paid for—to the advantage of  the rich and oftentimes dishonest candidates. On top of that,  some media outlets would consciously try to avoid giving space  to candidates not favored by their bosses or candidates who had advertised heavily for them. These are mercenaries posing as mediamen. I have noticed there is so much political news and talks on the airwaves and TV. Locally, I have observed they hardly talk about or mention as to who are congressional candidates for the 2nd district of Cagayan de Oro. They have had debates for the mayoral and vice mayoral candidates, but have not had any debates among the congressional candidates.

Now for the public’s sake, I wish to announce that in the 2nd  congressional district, my wife, Atty. Evangeline T. Carrrasco, is a candidate against Maxie Rodriguez, Atty. Ramon Tabor, and Atty. Edgar Cabanlas. For the record, she is also willing to engage in a debate with all the other candidates at any forum. Incidentally, won’t the Comelec or local Namfrel sponsor such a debate or forum as required by law or as their social duty to inform the public about the platforms and issues the candidates bear?

For the record, too, Atty. Evangeline Carrasco has the following principal platforms, among others: 1. Opposition to the use of Lumbia airport as Edca military base because Cagayan de Oro could become a zero ground or nuclear magnet in case war erupts between the Americans and China or Russia or other American enemies. Our city should not be used as a defense wall. 2. Government guarantee for cash deposit required by private hospitals in emergency cases for indigent patients, even for just P10 thousand or P15 thousand.