Butch Bagabuyo “Force and not opinion is queen of the world but it is opinion that uses force.” – Pascal TRADITIONAL politicians of all shades in our country are ruled by their mistaken belief that everything has a price. But the uncontested truth prevailing in our country today and since time immemorial is, people, not money, are the ultimate force and power. Undoubtedly, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos ably assisted by his beautiful wife, Imelda, used both money and power so cleverly that they were able to rule our poor native land by buying media and opinion makers. At that time, only praise releases found print and aired on radios and TVs. However, the conjugal dictatorship was practically forced by young and brave intellectuals from far away Mindanao in the persons of go-for-broke former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., former governor and assemblyman Homobono “Bono” Adaza, and the former no-nonsense mayor and assemblyman, Reuben “Ben” Canoy, to allow the easing of their grip and control of media. Consequently, opinion makers sprouted like mushrooms on stormy nights.  Slowly but surely all the public markets, the barber and beauty shops and town plazas echoed the teachings of our triumvirate. And precisely because warm bodies are the ultimate power, the late President Cory was installed president of our country despite the Comelec and its infamous “Hello Garci.” Nevertheless, I’m inclined to believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, made sure that memory is short if not, inexistent to most of the greedy and the trapos who fatten both their bellies and their secret bank accounts in the name of their extracurricular activities. Trust me, history is about to repeat itself. Here is my take: Today, the Liberal Party is doing exactly what GMA’s political party did in the 2004 and 2010 elections––only this time, far worst. They shamelessly and callously wasted our government coffers trying their worst to wipe out opposition. They resorted to the filing of all sorts of disqualification cases and suspension orders. Remember how much time, money and all did the GMA tentacles wasted just to eliminate FPJ? Still, they failed then as the Liberals will also fail now, not because the laws involved are against the proponents of the disqualification cases but because in our country’s sovereignty resides in the people; hence, cases of this nature is best left for the people to decide. Right? Today, both Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares and Vice President Jejomar Binay bore the brunt of oppression from the Liberal Party and the UNA (dog eat dog). Mar and Co. are salivating at the thought of Poe-Llamanzares being disqualified even as Chiz Escudero and Co. giggle at the thought of Binay thrown out of the way. Believe you me, all these oppressions and charges as well as countercharges by and between the Liberal Party and the UNA candidates will definitely favor the poor man’s choice––“Super Digong” Duterte and outstanding Congressman Rufus Rodriguez. By May 9, 2016, it will either be Duterte-Cayetano or Duterte-Marcos, if you ask me, and the teeming millions of poor Mindanaoans and elsewhere in the Philippines. And only in the Philippines, mark my word. Tsada, di ba?
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“Public opinion, though often formed upon a wrong basis, yet generally has a strong underlying sense of justice.”––Abraham Lincoln If the elections were held today and on the basis on academic excellence alone, Congressman Rodriguez would win by a landslide over the two other mayoral contenders. Briefly, the records show: Rodriguez is second to none in scholastic standings: consistent valedictorian and summa cum laude all the way. But as a firm believer that education is not based on diploma but on embedded compelling sense of values, I say that with more reason that Congressman Rufus would win overwhelmingly. For lack of space, let us just limit our verdict on public records and perception on family and human relations as well as infrastructure projects accomplishments, to wit:
  • Undoubtedly, Congressman Rufus is a model family man (one loving wife and one child, both oozing with humility) while the other two suffer by difference: one was abandoned by a loving wife, and the other has to make it appear that he and wife live in one house but not a home.
To be fair still, I suggest that we ask their neighbors. Rufus, wife and family live at their ancestral home at Nazareth ever since they were wed. The other sickly contender lives in a mansion, not a home which is owned by a close ally in paper with fully armed security personnel, daredevil drivers and domestic helpers up in Barangay Macasandig. The other appears to be living somewhere near his former rented suites at a posh hotel up on the hill on the way to the nearby Pryce Gardens, a resting place for the moneyed.
  • All infrastructure projects of Congressman Rufus for the city and elsewhere were done through public biddings among qualified bidders, pursuant to Government Procurement Act (RA 9185 of 2004). Please correct me if I’m wrong but the other two contenders found it most convenient to “chop-chop” their clearly overpriced infrastructure projects such as the huge hump on Velez Street and the school buildings in order to do away with biddings ever since they joined public service.
  • All the siblings of Congressman Rufus wholeheartedly supported his candidacy while the other two have family squabbles involving inheritance––again, please correct me if I’m wrong. But rest assured criminal cases are forthcoming.
Fear not. The city can still file criminal cases for plunder (RA 7080, as amended), and, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), violations of which laws expire 20 years and 15 years, respectively. I repeat: this early, I can already smell landslide victory for Congressman Rodriguez and his team over the ailing and fading violet team and I doubt the arrogant and envious yellow probinsyano could reach the finish line. Just look at how pathetic his lineup is. Pagka luoy, wa ko il! Hambuguero ka man gud. To my friends Zaldy og Roger, you still have until Dec. 10 this year to change your color.