EDITORIAL

A shooter from the hip

It is amazing how Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales could issue “outrageous and insensitive” statements shooting from the hip and still be unrepentant even if these ignite public outrage.Gonzales earned the ire of a lot of people for saying Julia Campbell, the US Peace
Corps. Volunteer in Banaue, Ifugao who was killed in the area was “reckless” for going for a hike by not instituting safety measures like having a guide.

Now a perturbed US President George Bush said he was putting on hold Filipino immigrants to the US for this. An over-the-top decision but then, if Gonzales didn’t utter those statements, Bush may not have reacted that way. Nowthe Commission on Elections is saying it may “invite for questioning” Gonzales on his offer to reward village chiefs in his hometown of Iloilo with 10,000 each if they could deliver a 12-0 victory for the administration’s Team Unity.

The Comelec’s law department is now looking into the statement made by Gonzales, which also drew sharp criticism from some quarters, to see if he could be held liable for violating election laws particularly on vote-buying. According to Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos himself, a promise of money is equivalent to vote-buying. He said it would still be illegal even if in the delivery of promised projects, the money came from private funds.

Aside from the two above-cited cases, the “arrogant” statements of Gonzales on other matters concerning the country had also been a cause of concern of civilized society. Now he is again on the hot seat for his 10,000 peso reward money. Under Article 22 section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or
private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party, could be held liable for vote buying and selling.

According to Abalos, those holding political positions in President Arroyo’s cabinet could support candidates, as long as they do not go the extent of buying votes to ensure the victory of their bets. The people are closely watching how the Comelec would handle the issue – if Gonzales would be treated with kid gloves or not.