The election fever is starting to heat up as the Commission on Elections started accepting certificates of candidacy for the elective positions up for grabs from local to the national level.
On the local level, the filing of COC of Mayor Benjamin Magalong for reelection put an end to speculations that he would run for senator under the party of Sen. Ping Lacson, who is running for president. After all, it was supposedly Lacson who convinced and supported him in his bid to run for mayor. Thus, it may have been also the reason why Benjie, at the start of his term, had openly expressed his desire to be just a one-term mayor. Although we had told Benjie that he could not realize his 15-point program of government in just one term, what with big ticket projects that he had lined up to do.
It is interesting to note that Benjie is the official candidate of the National Peoples Coalition, which also endorsed the presidential bid of Lacson. But Benjie also appears to be supporting Rep. Mark Go and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan because, as someone noted, they were following his lead.
It is also interesting to know how the parties of Go and Olowan would react, especially those running with them for the mayorship, notably former vice mayor Edison Bilog. We shall know soon after the political parties have finally formed their line-ups or how the parties would adjust their “coalitions” with other parties or candidates when the period for substitution ends.
The run for vice mayor is also an interesting scene to watch. Olowan will be challenged by third-term councilors Elaine Sembrano and Joel Alangsab, including Association of Barangay Councils president Michael Lawana. We recall that Sembrano ran for mayor some years ago. She will, perhaps, rely on the women and business sectors. Some observers say that Lawana can give Olowan a run for his money because of his alliances with many barangay officials and has the logistics capable of supporting his bid for the vice mayoral position.
Here in Geneva, we were invited on Oct. 7 by Julie Palaganas, a member of Migrante Switzerland, to attend and observe the rally seeking the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) to pursue an independent investigation (other than the International Criminal Court investigation) on the alleged human rights violations committed by the Duterte administration.
The rally was organized by Geneva Forum and Migrante Switzerland and attended by Filipino activists and friends. The 48th regular session of the UNHRC had just been launched the day before.
In a statement circulated by the Migrante, Anakbayan, and Gabriela in Switzerland, aside from pressing for the investigation of the human rights violations of the Duterte administration, they asked the council to establish a mechanism that would address human rights violations in the Philippines considering that human rights violations continue with more impunity despite the UNHRC resolution extending technical assistance and capacity building to the Philippine government. The group considers the UNHRC resolution “profoundly weak” as attacks on human rights in the Philippines are unabated amid the pandemic.
The rally was symbolically held at the U.N. Broken Chair, which stands across the street from the Palace of Nations where many international rallies against human rights violations and indignities are held.
The Broken Chair is a 12-meter-high sculpture in wood by Swiss artist Daniel Berset, constructed by carpenter Louis Geneve in 1997 for the NGO Handicap International. It depicts a giant chair with a broken leg originally symbolizing opposition to land mines and cluster bombs, but now symbolizes the despair and dignity of armed violence. It aims to remind the obligation of states to protect and help victims.
We consider the Broken Chair as a symbol of the brokenness of humanity caused by man. (DEL CLARAVALL)
