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Ben Contreras .

ALL eyes seem to be on the 2019 elections. Judging from who are likely to run for what and where, people wonder if change will ever come to this nation of 110 million Filipinos. Our population is expected to grow faster than it used to. If we don’t change in the real sense, difficult times are assured in the future.

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We’ve been in a rut for decades. The late dictator who wanted to bring this nation to greatness was toppled only to be replaced by new type of marauders. Yet, everyone still wants to crucify the Marcoses but rarely the leaders after Ferdie. Obviously, media have successfully inculcated in the public minds that only Marcos is bad, the epitome of evil while the rest are, what was that again, the lesser evil?

There is no such thing as lesser evil. What were stolen run to hundreds of millions, too, if not, billions. When there is no certainty of punishment, it makes people in the government daring to commit crime. Politicians fight during elections. After that, they are comrades in arms in corruption.

Who is to blame? It could only the stupid electorate who sell their votes, thereby selling their future and that of their children.

Some are obviously a rag-toiches story. But they were able to stay in their position with their ill-gotten wealth. Voters who are noisy are simply gagged with cash which they accept willingly and move on with their lives until the next election.

In Misamis Oriental, politics seems to be a monopoly of a few families/names. History will bear it out. They are like a team of basketball players doing the rounds, one after another.

A lousy justice system also contributed to the survival of the corrupt in the government.

Recently, Oscar Moreno got away from his travails at the Sandiganbayan because the anti-graft court put more weight on a technicality than the merits of the case. So, where to Moreno? I heard if not for mayor again, Congress in one of the districts in the city. Happy days are here again for the shameless Moreno.

Elections will not bring the change the President aspires for. If elections next year materialize, let’s say goodbye to federalism and change because the winners would be very predictable.

***

The traffic jams caused by checkpoints have elicited mixed reactions, pros and cons. Those caught in the traffic jams and were in a hurry have reasons to be outraged. But those who gave more importance to their safety took the situation lightly.

Was there a threat against the people? Perhaps, there was and there still is. From where the threat comes is a national security matter. It could be from the left, the secessionists, political enemies or the Church. Or even a combination of a few.

The strict measures implemented when the President visited our city, the do’s and dont’s for media people… these all indicated security matters.

Many want to topple the Duterte administration. They can try and try and provide the right ingredients. One day, they might just wake up to see what they are afraid would happen.

If Duterte remains popular despite the incessant attacks against him from all angles, then he must have done something good for the nation and the people. Never underestimate that.

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