WITH the midterm elections just around the corner, campaigning has gone to a new level, with motorcades and the like bashing the air even in some forgotten places. Reports of vote-buying have become more rampant, in the guise of helping the needy.
By this time, many voters have made up their minds and have even completed their lists of who to vote for, starting with the senatorial, gubernatorial, and mayoral posts, down to the lowest position up for grabs.
The list of personalities running for various posts is kilometric and includes shady characters seeking seats on national and local levels. One such character is doomsday pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing child sex abuse and human trafficking charges but is running for a Senate seat.
‘It’s the system bending for people with power, about silence where there should be accountability.’
Then there’s San Rafael, Bulacan Mayor Mark Cholo Violago, who has been linked to alleged billion-peso illegal cigarette operation. He is now running for Congress as the representative of Bulacan’s third district.
In September last year, Violago was called out by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark for trying to bring into the country P400,000 in undeclared cash from Bangkok.
Under customs rules, bringing in or taking out more than P50,000 in local currency requires written authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
We’re sure suspended Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo would have run for another term if the Commission on Elections had not banned her from doing so.
We can go on and on and list other unsavory characters seeking elective posts, but it’s not worth it.
Voters should think twice, thrice, even a million times before voting for characters associated with smugglers, gambling lords, drug lords, suspended officials, corruption, organized crime, or even economic crimes.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said that all forms of crimes, including economic crimes, can be stopped if government agencies work together. But not all those engaged in such acts are being pursued and even allowed to run for public office. It’s the system bending for people with power, about silence where there should be accountability.
We remind voters that our future as a nation hinges on the results of the coming polls. Cast those votes wisely.
