What is the matter with Philippine elections?

Elmo Cruz, Manila: In Philippine elections, the hypocrites are presented as saints while the hallowed ones have to resort to evil ways to survive.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: We elect more of the same people we love to kick out, throw stones at, shake hands with, and blame for our miseries every now and then. Ho-hum.

Violent and dirty

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s always chaotic. Philippine elections have now become a breeding ground of the hidden agenda of all the protagonists. The system must be revisited to correct the flaw as we witness a considerable number of violent incidents every election period.

Noel Banias, Makati City: As it is, this year’s national elections are not too different from past elections. There’s mudslinging, character assassination, black propaganda, and even murder in certain political hotspots. We are noted for our very passionate politics so much so that it takes years for the bitter pill of losing to be palatable. However, through all these, we dutifully complete the task of voting for our chosen candidates come election day. It is only during the actual canvassing of votes cast when the ugly head of political partisanship rears its ugly head.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: It’s the most violent and the dirtiest. It stinks and all politicians act like barbarians. Everyone has split personalities. They act like angels, pretending to care, but the truth of the matter is that all of them only want power and money. They are all natural-born liars.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: There’s always cheating, intimidation and violence to influence the outcome, instead of the electorate electing their chosen candidates based on competence and platform of government. 

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: In every Philippine election, cheating has always been a way of life for power-crazed politicians. Voters, on the other hand, sell their votes for a little cash.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: It’s always dirty, not honest, and magulo. Yes, it’s automated, pero palpak naman. Philippine elections will never be the same as in the pre-Marcos years.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: In Maguindanao, there is only one family running the whole province. Dirty politicians are like the ogre that never dies; they simply change names. There’s nepotism, dynasties, feudalism and gangsters all ingredients of violent elections. But our lawmakers are the worst lawbreakers.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Philippine elections are always full of controversies, from start to finish. 

Delfon Todcor, Quezon City: It is based on a shaky foundation of money-making, conspiracy and cheating. Classic examples are the “Hello, Garci?” scandal and the failure of PCOS machine flash cards.

We’re experiencing growing pains

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: Election-related problems are part of the growing pains of a young nation.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Ours is a physically and morally weak election process. It has made voters long for a conscientious Comelec that will hold and guard credible elections.

Arvin Padual, Quezon City: Philippine elections are a symbol of democracy and an amplification of the constitutional provision from which all government authority emanates.

Our elections are still not totally credible

Dr. Dennis Acop, Baguio City: It is still not totally credible. Too many factors go wrong that even the dull can’t have faith that the polls are clean and orderly. The President appears to be in control of every institution that would have anything to do with preventing monopoly of power: Legislature, judiciary, executive, and especially the AFP. Incumbent officials themselves are the ones spelling disaster instead of controlling them. Finally, the divided people themselves always manage to doom elections simply by staying divided to promote individual interests instead of uniting in order to do what is good for the nation as a whole.

It’s a circus!

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Philippine elections have become a popularity contest, with entertainers taking center stage.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Philippine elections remain to be like a free-for-all mud-wrestling contest with a confused audience.

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: The Philippine elections are like cultural festivals, which show different perspectives from all walks of life, and it has been part of the livelihood of so many workers.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Depending on the mindset of one who looks at Philippine elections, the matter is either a joyous occasion or a disdainful one. Some people take it as if it were fiesta time, enjoying the show done by politicians who act as if they were in showbiz and actors who act as if they really know politics! On the other hand, many disdain our kind of elections, because it is a time when Filipino politicians, especially the candidates, come out with all sorts of dirty tactics to the point of lying to destroy their opponents.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Elections provide the break during which most Filipinos enjoy themselves. They attend rallies if only to see their favorite actors or actresses. In between, they make babies to add to the population. Then, you will hear them complain how poor they are.

Sore losers abound

Enrique Layno, Laguna: As the saying goes, in every Philippine election, walang natatalo kasi kapag nanalo ang isang partido, siguradong sisigaw na nadaya ang natalong partido.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: After votes are counted, protests are held. Philippine elections are a deadly contest for the rich and famous. It is divisive and the only contest in the world where there are no losers.

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: Candidates tend to be sore losers; concession seems to be out of their vocabulary.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Philippine elections are unique because nobody loses; only cheated. None of the candidates talks seriously about any of the issues that really matter, like the development of a self-reliant economy, the elimination of social injustice, and the promotion of a patriotic and pro-people culture. In refusing to address the issues that really matter, these candidates do the electorate a disservice.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Our elections are the only national polls in the world where nobody loses! It’s either you win or you were cheated. Often, the results are unreliable, depending on who’s at the helm of the Comelec. I pray that automated counting changes that.

We see the same old faces

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: I’m happy about the the new faces, but, then again, the endorsers are the same ugly politicians.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: It never did change. The same traditional politicians seem to hold on to their posts for power and glory. After several elections, we are still a Third World country, with almost no change at all. Qualified candidates never get the chance to serve the country if they are penniless or have weak machinery. The only change is that the counting of votes is now automated.

Politicians don’t care

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: It’s always swarming with trapos with one common goal: Their pork barrel.

Felix Ramento, USA: Because of the kind of politicians we have, our elections have always been a challenge for the government and the people. They have, in a purely business-like fashion, put a price tag on the small and big players in our electoral process.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: It is becoming worse, reducing the voter’s intensity and encouragement to the point of indifference. This is because politicians and their supporters take advantage of our Constitution’s ambiguities and loopholes that give rise to legal questions and dissenting interpretation. They focus on personal issues and engage in mudslinging. They don’t care about people dying of hunger; instead, they talk about something else totally unrelated to the people’s needs. Their only vision is winning in order to share the majority of the spoils.

We lack foresight

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I think we lack the needed foresight. Also, I always think that the private sector, rather than bureaucrats and old or retired individuals who seem to lack the needed planning and technical skills, would run the Comelec better. If not, replace all the old folks there with younger and more progressive-thinking individuals. Imagine, the Comelec is given almost three years before the next elections are held but they always fall short in their preparation.

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: Our elections will affect future generations unless we rectify our wrongdoings early on. It’s lamentable and disgusting. It erodes our political system. Campaigns and rallies no longer focus on political platforms and national issues. Automation could have been one step to modernize the elections, but look at what is happening now. There is a lot of digital manipulation in favor of chosen candidates. The sword of Damocles is hanging over our heads.

A lot of money goes around in election season

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: What matters most in our elections is lots of money, coming from a political clan, and the support of a media entity that sanitizes the black propaganda against you.

Carlito Pajaro, Rizal: During elections the following get richer: Printing presses, print and broadcast media, telecommunications companies, and certain individuals.

Media is very influential

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Philippine elections is a contest of wits and a battle of guts, both through conventional and unconventional ways. They are centered on personalities, not on platforms and ideals.

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Partisan news media heavily influence the Philippine political landscape. Voters elect whom media selects.

Voters don’t think

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Ang Philippine elections po ay nakakalungkot dahil sa mga botanteng ang inihahalal ay mga warlords, educated crooks, movie stars, gambling lords.

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: An election is supposed to be the perfect avenue to elect a good leader. Not so in the Philippines, for most non-thinking voters are swayed by surveys for the elite few. They never learn, thus we have the miseries of corruption and gross misdeeds of the trapos. Hello Filipinos, are we really enjoying this cycle of corrupt and incompetent kind of leaders? Tama na! 

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: Philippine elections have become a farce, a circus, a zarzuela. It is always a time for promises. Every election, we hear candidates promising heaven and earth, the moon and all the stars in heaven, a blissful life for everyone and yet, after the election, all these promises go down the drain. We cannot put the blame entirely on the candidates, though. Rather, the electorate should bear the brunt of the blame. Madali silang maniwala sa mga pangako ng mga kandidato. They can easily be swayed by the endorsements of their matinee idols, friends or influential people. They never care to check on the past performances or records of the candidates. All these years, our electorate has never learned from past mistakes.

Multi-party system isn’t working for us

Jojo Andrada, Metro Manila: When we have too many choices, we end up being fragmented as a people. We should look into transitioning into a two-party system.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Magulo; blame this on the framer of the 1987 Constitution for allowing multi- party systems and party lists. Most candidates have crab mentality to boot.

Same old flaws

Romeo Caubat, Masbate:  Same, same, same or it’s a matter of guns, goons and gold still. Walang pagbabago. 

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: As long as: our elections and political system continue to be dominated by elite political families or dynasties with the 3Gs (guns, goons and gold); we prefer to elect famous yet incompetent actors and actresses that are in governance; Filipinos continue to believe that only the rich have the right to be political leaders; capable and competent but poor leaders shy away from politics; we continue to practice expensive political campaigns; and we idolize all the dirty, brutal politicians and keep our eyes and mouth shut to all their abuses our country will never prosper nor rise from the rot we are in right now. With these realities, the Philippine elections, comparing to that of other countries, is going from bad to worse. 

Rene Poder, Manila: Our elections are as imperfect as the US model. Maybe we can copy the Japanese, minus the Kempeitai.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Terms are too short for local officials and too long for national officials that their performance has always been compromised.

Rules are ignored

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: The Philippine elections are a competition of civil people where the rules are subtly but deliberately ignored.

People disregard the Scriptures

Dante Raduyan, Metro Manila: Unless the people know what the Holy Bible says about leadership and elections, there is no way God will help us and extend His mighty hand to help the people.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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