Follow the leader UNOPPOSED IN 2013 ELECTIONS DUTERTE REFUSED CONTRIBUTIONS

By Manny Pinol

The crispy feel, the color and the scent of newly-printed paper money could be intoxicating.

Money could burn the bridges of relationships. Brothers fight, friends become enemies.

Money, on the other hand, could be the bridge which brings together enemies in an unholy alliance whose only intent is to gain.

Politicians jump from one political backyard to another, wherever they could gain more money while voters could change their choices on the eve of the elections because of it.

“Ipinagpalit ang tuwid na daan sa limang daan,” my frustrated supporters said shortly after the 2013 gubernatorial elections where my 25 point lead in the surveys was overturned by a “special operations group” which moved around on the eve of the elections offering people large sums of money.

But that is how it is in Philippine politics.

Political candidates spend hundreds of millions of pesos for a position which pays only P50,000 a month. In fact in the last barangay elections, I heard of stories of how candidates for the barangay chairmanship spent millions for a position which gives only a small honorarium every month.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand what happens next when politicians who spend tens of millions win positions in government.

Governance priorities are twisted and mainly guided by how much profit would be made in an undertaking.

Gymnasiums and large buildings are prioritized over anti-poverty micro-lending and livelihood programs because there is a large mark up in building construction and virtually nothing from livelihood projects for the poor.

Motor vehicles are given to barangays while umbrellas, slippers and shoes are distributed to the people instead of the repair of barangay roads and scholarships for the poor because there is money to be made in the purchase of the items and zero from scholarships.

The corruption in government swirls eternally in an endless circle. Voters sell their votes, politicians pay for their victories and then steal money depriving their people of real services thus perpetuating poverty.

It is all summed up by a statement made by a tyrant of a politician sometime ago: “Keep your people poor and you will rule forever.”

The scourge of this nation is actually not the politician who is satisfied with just making a little just to be able to wage a decent campaign in the next elections but those whose greed for the crispy feel, the color and the scent of money is insatiable.

But the scariest part of our existence as a nation is the nonchalance of people to acts of corruption in government.

“Hayaan mo yan. Lahat naman yan sila magnanakaw eh. Doon na lang tayo sa magnanakaw na namimigay din,” is the statement that reflects how sick the Filipino psyche is now when it comes to public accountability and corruption.

The culture of corruption, insensitivity and impunity is expected to permeate the Filipino society further and afflict the soul of the nation like a metastasizing cancer.

From top to bottom, from the highest officials of the country, to senators, congressmen and even the lowly barangay chairmen, corruption has become part of governance.

Follow the leader, they say.

Is there hope?

In the wide swath of muck and filth, there are a few standouts and former Naga City Mayor who later became DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo was said to be one of them.

The country lost him though in a tragic plane crash.

There are two other standouts, the outspoken Governor Joey Salceda of Albay and the colorful but controversial Mayor of Davao City Rody Duterte.

I don’t know Joey Salceda that well but I can share a few stories about Duterte.

In the last elections when he ran unopposed, he refused the financial contributions from businessmen and friends.

“I don’t need your money. I have no opponent. If you give me that I will just use it for other things. Just give that to the poor,” Duterte reportedly told the surprised would-be donors.

Such is the character of Duterte. He is comfortable living a simple life. He lives in a low-cost housing subdivision, wears an ordinary wristwatch, does not have a cellphone and moves around the city in a pick-up truck.

I cannot honestly say that Duterte has totally clean hands and that he never touched funds for purposes other than what they were intended to be used for.

Aside from several big bikes which he seldom rides now and a white Raven helicopter lent by a biking friend which he uses in flying to the remotest areas of the biggest city in the world, there is no proof of affluence or at least an physical indication that he gained financially from his 18 years as Mayor of Davao.

There is no ostentatious display of wealth in spite of the fact that Duterte belongs to a well-to-do family. His father Don Vicente Duterte was Governor of the Empire Province of Davao. He himself was educated in Ateneo (where he was expelled as kid after he accidentally hit a priest with a slingshot) and San Beda where he earned his law degree.

Davao City is not known for corruption, especially among policemen and army soldiers who receive large amounts of support, including regular supply of sacks of rice every two months, from the Mayor’s intelligence fund allocation.

With a government record untarnished by issues of corruption, will Duterte be the leader we have all been waiting for to start a new course in governance in the Philippines?

He could be but that is if he accepts the call of the people for him to be the next President.

With him at the helm, the campaign against corruption in government could really be pursued.

Follow the leader, indeed.

(Photo caption: Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte with his friend, banana tycoon Tonyboy Floreindo, a former congressman and a known ally of Vice President Binay.)