A Morales for our own Philippine elections?
NEWS carried by media organizations is generally one of two kinds – significant and interesting. The election of a comedian – Jimmy Morales – to the presidency of Guatamela would certainly qualify as interesting. In a matter so serious as politics, the election of a comic – to the highest position of authority and power of a country, no less – would draw the interest of newspaper readers around the world. Ordinarily they would not pay much attention to an election or to Guatemala.
Morales never held political office before he decided to run for election. A man of humble beginnings, he joined the presidential election on September 6, which were held after President Otto Perez Molina resigned in connection with an exposé of customs corruption. The expected front-runner – Manuel Baldizon – who was with the political establishment finished a surprising third. Morales and former First Lady Sandra Torres were the top two vote-getters. In the second round of elections last Sunday, Morales was backed by nearly 70 percent in a massive protest vote.
The victory of the comedian Morales was certainly of great interest – but it could be of utmost significance too to us in the Philippines where we have our own problems with government corruption. President Aquino rode the wave of protest against corruption in 2010, but the same political and economic establishment appears to have remained in firm control.
We could – like Vietnam and Thailand – be self-sufficient in rice, but some officials would rather import it. Our traffic problem is as bad as it is because our mass transit light rail systems are controlled by political allies rather than competent managers. Mass poverty remains the nation’s principal concern, and one big reason is there are not enough jobs for the people in their own land. Two landmark decisions were issued by the Supreme Court – against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or legislative pork barrel and the Disbursement Acceleration Program, described by the opposition as a virtual administration pork barrel.
We may not have a comedian like Jimmy Morales who was able to capture the imagination of the Guatemalans and unite them for a decisive electoral victory. But among the many candidates for president, vice president, and senators, there should be some who keep alive the spirit of reform. They may not have the capacity to evoke laughter like Morales but they might have the determination to change an undesirable status quo. And spring a surprise with a victory like Morales did in Guatemala.