What and whom to vote for

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
by March Fianza

I have heard the saying “we get what we vote for” more than a dozen times. And so if that is true then there is no one else to blame for the bad things that come after an election other than the voter.

On the other hand, there is nobody else happier than the victorious voter if there is more good than bad after an election.

Relative to that, I do wish that voters base their reasons for voting on some points that are simple but true. I have my own reasons which may be very similar to what others have, if not the same.

I wish the electorate would avoid candidates who made decisions that proved to be wrong, regarding the basura problem of Baguio . These include the candidates of nearby municipalities who nearly offered to host the basura of Baguio in contrast to the wishes of their residents.

Do not vote for candidates who endorsed malls in the middle of markets. Even those who are not from La Trinidad, Benguet think that the mall should not be built in the market.

The driver of the taxi that brought me to La Trinidad last week noticed that with a 30-minute rain, the only road in this town becomes a river. Now, why should a mall become a priority of the public officials of La Trinidad when the flooded street needs to be drained?

The problem is not new. Public officials of La Trinidad, whether elected or not, knew that but only come to think of a solution when the road is one foot under water.

With Tiong San, grocery and agricultural stores already built on both sides of the Halsema Highway in La Trinidad, the traffic becomes thick. What more if a Jarco Mall is allowed in the market.

In Baguio the complaint of smaller department stores is that SM and the Baguio Center Mall swallowed their previous customers. They are talking based on true experience.

In fact, there are more stores inside the giant SM and Jarco building that offer the same products and services that one can find in stores at Session Rd., Abanao St. and Magsaysay Ave.

If we want these things to happen in La Trinidad, then by all means, allow the construction of a mall in the middle of the market. Malls should help decongest crowded centers, and not make them thick.

Malls are not a political issue but a community problem than can be resolved by consulting a majority of all stakeholders. Public officials should not be narrow-minded and should instead attack the issue, not their political opponents.

The public should not vote for political candidates who displayed arrogance when they made it appear that as elected representatives of the people they already have the right to allocate spaces to private companies without asking permission from their constituents.

In the national scene, the electorate should not vote for those who have been supportive of GMA’s actions perceived as having done more bad than good to the nation. To name some, these candidates are Jocjoc Bolante and Arthur Yap.

Bolante is running for governor in Capiz, hometown of Liberal Party and leading vice presidential bet Mar Roxas, under Ugyon Kita Capiz (Unite Capiz).

Bolante was implicated by the Senate in the diversion of around P728 million in so-called fertilizer funds that were supposed to benefit farmers but allegedly went instead to government officials who were then supporting GMA in the 2004 presidential elections.

Former agriculture secretary Yap was one of GMA’s favorite cabinet members who never questioned nor lifted a finger against Jocjoc’s alleged deep participation in the P728 million agriculture scam. He is running unopposed for congressman of Bohol .

Do not vote for the supporters of GMA especially those who still want to put her in power by allowing her bid for a congressional seat for obvious reasons.

Do not vote for candidates who are synonymous to greed for power or those who already have finished their full term but still want to get back to their old posts.

As if there is something new that they can offer, something that they were not able to offer during their stay in power, but three terms of occupying an elected post is enough.

Please do not vote for those endorsed by the co-host of a noontime show, a boxing champ and a comedian, all of whom have one thing in common – they are all self-proclaimed babaeros.

Do not vote for those endorsed by subdivision developers who land grabbed lands where their subdivision houses now stood. Do not vote for candidates who look at lands as commodities that can be bought anytime as long as money can be profited from it.

Do not vote for realtor-politicians whose projects encroach on farm lands and never mind if these threaten food security, as long as these are profitable. Do not vote for presidential candidates whose personal interests are very obvious.
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In this republic of things presented through colorful spins but not-so-true acronyms and slogans that are meant to sway the innocent public from the real picture, comes a texted acronym.
Agra , the family name of a cabinet secretary in Malacanang is also an acronym with the following meaning: A-greement with G-loria to R-elease Ampatuans.

Inmates at the Baguio City Jail (and maybe in the other jails in the country) say that justice in the Philippines is now twisted. They say the Ampatuans are the luckiest suspects on earth.

They now tell stories about co-inmates who were also charged for murder but could hardly be heard in court. Yet the Ampatuans who were charged for the massacre of 57 defenseless men and women were released like nothing happened.

If that is not questionable then what is? – marchfianza777@yahoo.com