Shame on them

By Alex P. Vidal

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans.”—Peter Drucker

SOME politicians have made it a habit to dangle the ill-fated Panay-Guimaras bridge project to the Ilonggos, especially those living in Guimaras Province, in order to get their attention and, what else but, votes during every election.

From FVR to Erap, Gloria, Digong they’re all the same dogs with a different collar, so to speak. They all broke their promise to the Ilonggos and shame on them.

If either Leni Robredo or Bongbong Marcos Jr. will win on May 9, anyone of them is advised not to play anymore with the emotions of the people from Panay and Guimaras if the project isn’t actually in their radar.

Those who did think the people of Panay and Guimaras were like a babaeng kaladkarin, to borrow the words of the Tagalogs, who continued to stumble after being sweet-talked repeatedly by  womanizers.

As the saying goes, “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

-o0o-

WE have good reason to believe that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rey Bulay didn’t mean what he said when he reportedly threatened to use the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to arrest those who would accuse the poll body of playing partisanship during the May 9 Philippine election.

At least we are giving Bulay the benefit of the doubt.

Was he misquoted? Or was it a case of a slip of the tongue?

As a lawyer, it’s unimaginable for Dulay not to know the basic tenets of the freedom of speech, expression and of the press.

Even non-lawyers understand what this very sacred freedom is all about, and why it is enshrined in the constitution.

It’s understandable if many journalists were quick to react on Bulay’s threat.

Criticizing government officials like Bulay because it’s their job may be tantamount to placing themselves in the firing line, if Bulay meant the threat he had supposedly made.

Because it’s election season and Comelec is the most powerful government office until after the winners in the May 9 election have been officially proclaimed, many so-called freedom fighters and human right advocates running for public office were adamant to criticize Bulay.

Interestingly only Senator Franklin Drilon, who isn’t running in the election, took turns in chiding the neophyte poll commissioner, saying: “I would advise the commissioner that we’re public servants. Let’s not threaten the people. These are just pleas for honest elections, a call on the Comelec to exercise their duties. There is nothing wrong with that.”

-o0o-

It’s not advisable for any candidate—presidential and otherwise—to challenge his or her rival to a debate at this stage of the election campaign.

Thus Vice President Leni Robredo’s challenge to her rival Bongbong Marcos Jr. for a one-on-one debate a week before the Election Day appeared to be meaningless and jumbled.

If she thought she really needed it to prop up her candidacy, she should have made the challenge week ago—when Marcos Jr was being ribbed by his critics for intentionally dodging televised debates with no valid reason.

The campaign is about to conclude and the election is several sleeps away now.

Most candidates are also about to finalize their out-of-town sorties and miting de avance in different cities and provinces.

Everyone involved in the gut-wrenching campaign activities that romped off months ago is now tired and weary; most of them are now focusing their energy on Election Day.

To challenge anyone to a debate when the tents and curtains are being folded up is like a marathoner challenging a rival to run for additional 2 kilometers after crossing the finishing line of the 42.195-kilometer full marathon.

It will be misconstrued as a sign of panic and desperation. Or both.

Or it may be an irrational fear that someone hasn’t done the tasks that were supposed to be finished yesterday.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)