BECAUSE they couldn’t stand it, personnel of the world’s most corrupt agency of the Philippine bureaucracy (whose notoriety is rivalled only by their favored congressmen) swooped down in the city to bring down the “anti-corruption” tarpaulin billboards installed in key corners by supporters of Liberal Party Naga mayoral candidate John Bongat and LP congressional candidate James Jacob.
With conscience-pricking messages inscribed on the billboards staring on their faces, the DPWH personnel, obviously dispatched by their boss (the DE who’s at the beck and call of his congressman), removed the billboards and streamers in the morning ‘til the afternoon of Tuesday this week. They were aboard a government truck, with Plate Number SJM 106, that collected the 1x3 meter billboards and yellow cloth streamers. The all-text billboards were meant to remind the people that “marikas an pag-asenso kun an namamayo bakong trapo” and that “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
More of similar public reminders that will encourage prospective voters to demand for good governance, clean elections and anti-corruption advocacies will be installed as a means of educating the public especially at this time that they will once again choose their leaders, no matter how many more forms of harassment they will face in the future, according to the groups that installed the billboards and streamers.
Taking the cudgel for the Jovenes Orgulyo asin Honor kan Naga Movement, City Councilor and mayoralty candidate John Bongat complained that the DPWH District Office was discriminating in the removal of the billboards, sparing others from their supposed intention to clear roadways of litters that distract motorists.
Suspecting that the DPWH personnel were on a selective sweeping operation upon the instruction of the district engineer, Carmelo Reyta of the Volunteers for Innovative and responsive governance wasted no time to write DE Rolando F. Valdes of the 2nd Engineering Distrct of Camarines Sur to “explain why no prior notice was given us and why other billboards similarly situated were not likewise removed.”He also demanded to “advice us on the specific legal provision made bases for your action.”
Indeed, what happened last Tuesday was the first public warning within the brewing election season of more harassment to come from one you-know-who who loves to throw his weight around even if his foes are as harmless as butterflies. Just like in an imminent war, if you heard a faint rumble in the background, most likely it was the sound of a powerful and influential politician’s heavy artillery and armoured trucks moving into place. But Jacob, known even in his younger years as a peace advocate, who is facing off incumbent Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte is showing no sign of jitters. “In a civilized city like Naga, any form of harassment will surely backfire,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DPWH engineers—since the SOP kickbacks have been upped in connivance with their respective congressmen—have turned themselves into brainless and spineless mercenaries especially because of election time. While they are tearing down billboards and other paraphernalia of their master’s enemies, they turn a blind eye on the more conspicuous similar structures put up by favored politicians, such as those glorifying the names of the Villafuertes and other traditional politicians which are normally found in overpasses, government buildings, waiting sheds and along road easements. Another glaring example is the iron and concrete vertical landmark in a busy intersection in Daraga, Albay whose opposite roads lead to Legazpi City on one hand and to Sorsogon on the other even if the base of such structure narrowed the curved road that choke both incoming and outgoing vehicles and obstruct the view of their drivers. Such irrelevant landmark contains nothing but the magnified image of a local politician whose smiling face betrays the inconvenience and discontent being felt by the motorists and pedestrians.
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The latest survey of Pulse Asia conducted January 22-26, 2010 shows that nearly half of the voters polled (47%) would vote for Senator Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas of the Liberal Party if the May 2010 elections were held at the time of the survey, giving him a sizeable lead over Senator Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party at 28% in second place. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay of PDP Laban, at 13% was ranked in third place. The other vice-presidential candidates (Edu Manzano, et al) garner at most 2% voter preference.
Meanwhile, about one in ten voters (7%) did not have a favored vice-presidential candidate at the time of the survey.
Across geographical areas, Senator Roxas leads the race in Luzon, including the National Capital Region and the Visayas. However, voter preferences for the two leading contenders, Senators Roxas and Legarda, are essentially tied across the Mindanao areas surveyed.
As for the socio-demographic groupings, Senator Roxas enjoys sizeable leads among the upper socio-economic classes ABC (54%) and D (49%) and across the various age groups. Preferences for Senators Roxas and Legarda are essentially tied among Class E.
