Oh yes, Juan and Juana, you can do something to stop corruption.
Wield the power of the people in a democracy: vote plunderers out of office.
I know people who are so dismayed with the current state of politics and government that if elections were held today and the two feuding camps fielded their respective candidates, the people will pick NOTA – none of the above.
Seeing the epic disintegration of the former UniTeam allies, who during their 2022 campaign projected themselves to be as thick as thieves, the NOTA voters can only say, those estranged partners absolutely deserve each other.
But you can’t have a new government if you pick NOTA. People need alternatives to install in high office.
You can’t ask people to vote for change when they see the same faces and surnames running in every election. In many areas, dynasts run unopposed, with family members simply discussing whose turn it is, or else field token rivals.
The dynasty-building starts at the barangay. Those pushing for a “genuine” anti-dynasty law should be expressing greater outrage over the latest two-year term extension and five-year fixed term granted to the incumbent village and youth council officials.
Tell voters to wield the power of the ballot for meaningful change, and they might sigh that elections in our country are overrated.
Those concerned about our country turning into Asia’s basket case, and who have the capability, integrity and patriotic drive to stop the nation’s slide into perdition, should present themselves to the people as alternatives to the dynasts and their minions who now dominate the country.
It’s dismaying, though not surprising, that a survey conducted on June 20-29 by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed 52 percent of Filipinos agreeing with the statement, “a person like me cannot do anything to reduce corruption in the government.”
Thirty percent disagreed while 17 percent were undecided. The helplessness was highest in Metro Manila at 64 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 55 percent.
SWS said the numbers hardly moved from a similar survey in March this year, when 51 percent agreed and 29 percent disagreed.
The 52 percent was up from the 41 percent when the same question was asked in December 2009, with 41 percent disagreeing.
A slightly modified statement in 2012 – “it is too difficult for someone like me to fight corruption in the government” – had 60 percent agreeing and 19 percent disagreeing, with 20 percent undecided.
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Even the power of the vote, however, is now being taken away from the people, in the case of the smallest units of government, the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) or youth councils.
The Supreme Court had previously prohibited the “unduly long” postponement of BSK elections and struck down as unconstitutional the repeated BSKE postponements started during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, which effectively gave village and youth council officials an unduly long term extension.
But President Marcos, who signed the law for the latest postponement made possible by changing yet again the fixed terms of BSK officials, from four years to five, said the additional two years meant “not extra time in office, but extra time for accountability to the people.”
Said like the true son of the late dictator who wanted to hold on to power forever.
Insulting the intelligence of the people is becoming routine for the second Marcos administration, along with historical revision and broken promises (rice at P20 a kilo, unhappy Christmas 2025 for the flood control big fish, suspension of fuel taxes.)
By the time the next BSKE rolls around in November 2028, many of the youth council members who are benefiting from the latest term extension will be overaged for their posts.
This presumes that the BSKE will finally take place in November 2028. But nothing stops the current Congress from dispensing patronage to their relatives and political operators in the barangays by again passing a law postponing the BSKE in November 2028, and resetting it perhaps to the next century. They can always invoke BBM’s explanation: to give the BSK officials “extra time for accountability to the people.”
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For accountability, several of the officials responsible for depriving people of voting rights and the chance to replace their BSK officials deserve to be placed behind bars.
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal is correct in pushing for the abolition of the SK, and instead allotting one seat representing youths in the barangay council.
BBM is lucky that public disaffection with him is trumped by concern that if he is kicked out of office, whether by impeachment, a military coup or another popular revolt, he will be automatically replaced by his constitutional successor, Vice President Sara Duterte.
But at the rate he is faring, BBM’s endorsement power for 2028 is turning instead into a kiss of death, similar to that of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the 2010 general elections.
Arroyo’s net satisfaction rating in SWS surveys was below zero throughout much of her term. Just over a month before the 2010 elections, her net satisfaction rating skidded to a record low -53 percent, unmatched to this day, although BBM might soon catch up.
BBM’s net satisfaction rating fell below zero in November 2025 at -3 percent, sliding down further to -15 percent in March this year. The slide will likely continue.
Juan and Juana, you have the power to get rid of incorrigible liars, gaslighters, looters and plundering dynasts in our midst. You know who they are; vote them or their endorsed candidates out of office.
And watch out for thieves who might snatch and pre-shade the ballots, or steal the votes digitally.