‘Costly elections among reasons for Cha-cha’

MANILA, Philippines — The rampant vote-buying in local politics every three years, brought about by the election of congressmen, governors down to the mayoralty level – as mandated in the 1987 Constitution – is among the best arguments for Charter change, an administration lawmaker reiterated.

“These very expensive elections have become the favorite pastime of the people. These elections have bred and continue to breed massive corruption,” Rep. Robert Ace Barbers highlighted. “Yet we wonder why we are in the bottom standings of the world.”

“We just refuse to acknowledge it and turn a blind eye to this gruesome reality. This corrupt practice contributes heavily to our economic slide. Everything comes to a halt during elections. Only the self-proclaimed election ‘magicians’ profit from this exercise,” he acknowledged, with sarcasm.

No less than several framers of the Charter, according to Barbers, made “admissions” that “they had no concrete basis for putting the three-year term caps” for local officials.

“It is in itself a reason to take a second look. Why the distinction and discrimination? It was a revelation and admission of lack of basis and according to them ‘para maiba lang’ – smacks of discrimination and lack of vision,” he argued.

Barbers, chairman of the House of Representatives’ dangerous drugs committee, also observed that the “same people” oppose Charter change moves in every administration, from the time of the late president Fidel Ramos in 1992 and until now.

“Every time Cha-cha is the topic, the same people oppose it and they say the same thing. It is sad because they are not in touch with the people on the ground and are not attuned to their sentiments,” he said, apparently referring to senators who are elected at large on a national level.

“To say that a review is premature or that amendments are not needed at this time sounds like a broken record already because that has been their argument since 1995 when Ramos tinkered with the idea of reviewing the charter to make it more responsive to our economic needs,” he recalled.

“A review is very much consistent with the good intent of improving our political, economic and social systems should we find them lacking, so that we can bring the country closer to our neighbors in terms of development,” Barbers said.