EDITORIAL - The Magic 12

Since one of the pollsters has informally kicked off the 2019 election season with the first survey on possible winners in the upcoming Senate race, voters should take the opportunity to also start getting to know the likely candidates.

With the midterm elections just a year away, the major political parties have started announcing their choices for their Senate slates. President Duterte has also expressed informal support for the possible candidacies of certain individuals, although it can be hard to tell if he is serious or merely being playful.

In the selection of candidates, cracks are showing in the ruling coalition, whose core is the PDP-Laban. The President may have to act as arbiter among bickering groups in drawing up the final administration slate. As mediator, he can push for candidates with proven competence and integrity rather than mere loyalty – individuals who can help him in his advocacies against corruption and in implementing his socioeconomic agenda.

Senators play a challenging role in national development. Not too long ago, senators were typically looked upon as persons of competence. Not all of them turned out to be persons of integrity, but their capabilities for high office were unquestioned.

Perhaps the abuses of several of these brilliant minds made Filipino voters embrace the less competent and even buffoons, and to rely heavily on name recall in filling out ballots. These days, because the party system has become a joke, Filipinos don’t even vote along party lines, and instead pick whoever strikes their fancy.

The results have surely contributed to the current state of the nation, which has progressively lagged behind its neighbors in terms of many economic and human development indicators. Younger generations of Filipinos have no memory of the days when the country was second only to Japan in this region in terms of prosperity and development.

Making informed choices during elections can help reverse this trend. Potential candidates are now being floated and included in surveys on the Magic 12. Voters must scrutinize each potential aspirant so wise choices can be made in 2019. We deserve the government we get.