THERE’S NO SUBSITUTE FOR GENUINE PUBLIC SERVICE
Now that the voting public has an idea on who are aspiring to become public servants and those who wanted to get reelected for the various elective positions at the close of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2022 national and local election on Oct. 8, the actual hard work in choosing a new crop of Filipino leaders has actually just begun.
For those gunning for “real change” this time after “change has come,” the road will be no different from those who seek to extend their terms to remain in power since the decision, ideally, rests on the voters come May 9, 2022.
The following days therefore are a crucial time for the voters, who may either already have in mind who to support, or are still undecided and open to be persuaded during the campaign period.
But just as we were given time to register as voters and recently an extension for those who missed the Sept. 30 deadline, the dust has not totally settled yet as well on the final “who’s who” in the upcoming political race.
There is still a long way to go from now up to election day. Variables may still crop up that could have an impact on the results of the upcoming political exercise and consequently on the country’s landscape, at least for the next six years.
As we have seen in the 2016 presidential elections, there was a switch – the substitution of a candidate originally fielded by a political party with another candidate – for the country’s highest position, and it all made the difference in the way the country’s affairs are being handled now.
While general speculations have ended, the same cannot be said about the current list of candidates, especially at the national arena, by virtue of a Commission on Elections rule that allows substitution of candidates within a certain period.
For the 2022 elections, substitute candidates may file their COC by Nov. 15 if the original candidate either dies, withdraws, or disqualified by the Comelec.
We have no misgivings about this proviso. Unfortunately, substituting candidates particularly on the ground of a candidate’s withdrawal from the race may become a travesty of the election process when it is used as a strategy to win the elections or to advance hidden agendas.
The point is, such practice looks like becoming a habit and tends to belittle voters’ judgment. If an aspirant files for candidacy, it should be made after careful discernment and consideration of one’s ability and purpose. No drama, no suspense.
Filing a COC then withdrawing the same as a ploy to give way to another candidate who has been a party’s real bet is plain mockery, if not deceitful. If those aspiring for public service won’t be decisive in their plans, voters should take the same as a caveat on the kind of leader these aspirants would be.
This, along with our traditional voting behaviors and practices – voting based on popularity over merit, political dynasties, vote-buying and yielding to pressure, violence, unfair playing field in terms of advertising, and use of public funds in campaigning, etc. – which have been robbing us of the chance of electing those who truly deserve to lead, should become things of the past.
The electorate has to step up their manner of choosing leaders if we want to move forward and keep up with times, especially now we are struggling to win over the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is crucial we elect people in government that have definite and responsive recovery programs not only to survive the new normal but be prepared to tackle future challenges.
We expect all kinds of candidates with different intentions and personalities to take center stage in the 2022 elections and so it will surely look like another circus. It will be up to the voters if they would allow it to become one. Substitute or not, determined or not, voters should be wiser in their scrutiny of candidates and in making the right choice for their leaders.
We have had enough of the drama, impulsiveness, and some lost chances to become a better governed country due to the pandemic and the current political situation. If we care for genuine and effective public service, we, the voters, should use this period until the elections to level up the way we vote so that for a change we could be proud of making the right choice.