Barangay elections

Since the time when I started to have keen interest in the holding of our country's political exercise, I was admittedly fully ignorant about the apolitical nature of the barangay elections until a respected Cebu radio broadcaster explained plainly in his radio program the apolitical nature of the barangay polls. That was in the later part of the 70s.

Prior to the holding of the May 17, 1982 barangay elections, it was an undeniable fact that all of the candidates, be they reelectionist or neophyte candidates for barangay captain or barangay kagawad, enjoyed the support or backing from influential politicians or from local government chief executives.

In the course of the campaign sorties, I used to meet my friend a supporter of a candidate for barangay captain who at once told me, "Don't vote for him. He is a KBL." --the political party of dictator Marcos. Then another one convinced me saying, "Come with me and vote for this candidate from the opposition party."

For the information of the reading public, the 1982 barangay elections were being held in the country for the first time after the dictator Marcos lifted martial law on January 17, 1981 through Presidential Proclamation No. 2045.

Today, it's the same thing. Either this candidate or that candidate for barangay captain gets the support or backing of an influential politician or from the mayor of a town, municipality, or city where the candidate resides. It seems the contagious political virus has penetrated deeply in the minds and hearts of our people, spoiling the nonpartisanship or apolitical nature of the barangay elections.

Surely, a wise voter cannot and will not allow his God-given intelligence and will to be controlled by anybody with vested political interest. It is up to him to decide to vote for candidates of his own choice not dictated by any person or group with political leanings.

We will be holding the barangay and SK elections on October 30, 2023. Let the voice of the people prevail. Vox Populi Vox Dei.