Power hungry

TWENTY-EIGHT deaths, nine injuries in 30 incidents believed to be election-related have so far been recorded by the Philippine National Police.

Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, said that as of 6 p.m. of May 12, the police had recorded 30 violent incidents suspected of being election related.

This is lower than the 57 election violence recorded with 109 victims of whom 37 were killed in the October 2013 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. But since elections were just yesterday, we can never be sure if the 2013 numbers will still be exceeded.

The fact remains that there is violence. The fact remains that there are still those power-hungry who are not above annihilating their rivals just to get that seat. A sad reality.

We still dream of the time when elections will no longer entail a count of violence, whether it be injuries or deaths. It may sound impossible, it may sound that we are crazy, but we know that this can be achieved if each one of us will impart the love for peace among our children and build a moral fiber that rejects violence and gr eed.

Yes, we are dreamers, but we cannot just stand aside and do nothing.

We can start with the little things, like making sure that each and every candidate and supporter will not distribute sample ballots outside the voting areas. Yes. Just in case you forgot, such act is prohibited, but everyone is doing it. Thus, we are reminded that everyone is a violator and should be called out.

We will not rejoice because despite the deaths, the barangay and SK polls were generally peaceful. That is an oxymoron. Let us not settle for anything less than what real humans should aspire for. We’ve been settling for less since time immemorial, and look where it brought us.

— Sunnex