Questions for local candidates

By Michael Henry Yusingco, LL.M

“In contrast, the heads of political subdivisions are elected by the people. Their sovereign powers emanate from the electorate, to whom they are directly accountable.” This is an excerpt from the landmark case of Pimentel vs Aguirre [G.R. No. 132988, July 19, 2000]. It is advisable for voters, and most especially media, to internalize the truth being expressed here. Indeed, this ethos should be guiding our decision in the local election this May.

A local official’s authority to govern comes solely from the electorate. They are, of course, duty-bound to respect the national government, but they are also expected to advocate for the cause of their local government unit (LGU). They cannot simply serve at the pleasure of Malacañang or kowtow to the whims of Congress. Local officials must answer to their constituents, first and foremost.

In assessing candidates for local positions, it would be beneficial to also use these excerpts from another landmark case on local autonomy, Mandanas vs Ochoa [ G.R. No. 199802, July 03, 2018]:

“The grant of autonomy simply means that Congress will allow the LGUs to perform certain functions and exercise certain powers in order not for them to be overly dependent on the National Government subject to the limitations that the 1987 Constitution or Congress may impose.”

Furthermore, “In its broad or general sense, decentralization has two forms in the Philippine setting, namely: the decentralization of power and the decentralization of administration. The decentralization of power involves the abdication of political power in favor of the autonomous LGUs as to grant them the freedom to chart their own destinies and to shape their futures with minimum intervention from the central government.”

Local officials are expected to embody the vital tenets of local autonomy both in words and in deeds. Voters need to make sure that only candidates who exhibit a deep affinity with local autonomy get a fair chance at electoral victory. Local candidates who cannot clearly express what not being “overly dependent” on the central government entails should be rejected. Those who cannot vow to keep LGUs functioning “with minimum intervention” from the national government should be spurned.

However, another aspect of local autonomy that we must all accept is that LGUs will still need to engage with the national government. Local governance is fundamentally about balancing the peculiar needs of the LGU and the limitations imposed by law and the constitution on local governments. Specifically, local officials need to navigate between initiatives that the LGU can do alone and bigger development programs that require a joint effort with the central government.

Therefore, voters need to see particular qualities about candidates to help them elect the local officials who can steer their LGU towards the right direction. Media can help them in this regard by asking the right questions when dealing with local candidates. In fact, it would be optimal for all if journalists focus their attention on these issues: 1) augmenting learners’ education, 2) keeping public spaces safe and accessible to all, and 3) ensuring youths contribute to nation-building.

Journalists should immediately shut down local candidates who can only offer motherhood statements and buzzwords. Dumbing down the campaign is actually a bad sign. It means the candidate has no respect for voters. And if this candidate is elected, graft and corruption will likely follow. Once in office, there will be no internal compass to prevent the abuse of power and to stop them from enriching their families.

Local candidates who promise the sun and the moon should be aggressively challenged by journalists. The intent to deceive voters is evident here. This alone is enough reason for media hostility. But even worse, candidates who employ this tactic really have no inkling about being in government. Which probably means their motivation to run for office is self-serving. Stealing from the public coffers is likely part of their political agenda.

In the context of local autonomy, journalists must tease out coherence and viability from local candidates. Voters need to see and listen to those who can discuss plans and programs that can realistically be achieved. This will require an honest-to-goodness stocktaking of the current status of the LGU. More critically, voters need to hear a frank explanation of the challenges ahead.