The politics of trapos

Traditional politicians (trapos) are inherently corrupt. They amass millions through kickbacks from the government projects to buy votes during elections. During the campaign period, they promise to high heavens to provide excellent service, dance with wolves on the stage to entertain the electorates, and dole out token amounts of money during house visits. Usually they belong to a family, a political dynasty that considers politics as a family business or enterprise.

Election is a game of thrones between the ruling elite of society. So, they cannot be expected to serve the interest of the oppressed and exploited sectors of society – the workers in the city and the peasants in the countryside. They only pay lip service to fool the people, but after being elected they say goodbye to all their promises.

Under the circumstances, the poor masses of people who comprised the vast majority readily sell their votes to the highest bidder during elections, thinking that it is the only way to they can settle the score with traditional politicians. After all, whoever is elected will never serve their interest.

Once elected into office, the trapos will start to contemplate of how to recoup his expenses in buying votes during election. He resorts to the rigging of bidding to get kickbacks from infrastructure projects. To protect his fiefdom, he hires people who are equally corrupt like him. Thus, the bureaucracy is turned into a conspiracy of corrupt and incompetent civil servants.

So, if you sell your votes to a trapo, don’t ever complain of corruption and inefficient governance. You get what you deserved. You sold your soul to the devil so be prepared to burn in hell.

Rene F. Antiga

Banilad, Mandaue City