‘Daang Matuwid’ and the elections
CONSIDER this a post script to the May 13, 2013 elections. Or an “assessment” of the conduct of the said political exercise using as measuring stick President Noynoy Aquino’s “Daang Matuwid” slogan. Specifically, this is about how the Liberal Party (LP) played the game.
The “straight path” slogan is an allusion to the supposed high moral ground the PNoy administration is treading. It was hatched during the 2010 presidential campaign to separate Aquino from the “trapos” (traditional politicians) and to differentiate his governance from that of his predecessor, the unlamented Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Aquino was actually the only presidential candidate in 2010 who could credibly espouse the “Daang Matuwid” slogan. He is the son of former president Cory and the martyred Ninoy and wasn’t expected to sully the good image of his parents by following the path Arroyo took. An “incorruptible” president is in the best position to bring decency back to the government bureaucracy.
The country’s current economic gains can be partly credited to this. Corruption in the bureaucracy is no longer as prevalent as in the past administration and laws and rules are no longer violated with impunity. That’s what “Daang Matuwid” brings.
I did not see that in the recently con- cluded elections, however. The Aquino administration, in its eagerness to gain control of Congress and get the majority of important local government posts for whatever purpose, showed that it can be no different from its predecessors. “Daang Matuwid” was pushed to the wayside; decency gave way to “trapo” scheming.
The LP proved to be no different from past administration parties. It is headed by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who is widely believed to be preparing a run for the presidency in 2016. But whether Roxas will be the LP standard bearer by that time or not, the party saw the need to be dominant by that time. The results of the May 13 polls were considered crucial to the achievement of that goal.
To increase the number of its al- lies holding elective local government posts, the administration party embraced available politicians and local parties, no matter their record. An example: In Maguindanao, at least ten members of the Ampatuan clan (of the Maguindanao massacre “fame”) were able to wiggle into the LP as official candidates.
I won’t repeat what I have already written about the case of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in vote-rich Cebu. But it wasn’t the only example of Malacañang “scheming.” Gov. Amado Espino of Pangasinan, another vote-rich province, was accused of being a “jueteng lord” by two politicians identified with the administration party.
Espino was running for reelection against LP bet Hernani Braganza. Talks about the governor being suspended were floated but Malacañang backed off, apparently for lack of sufficient proof. But despite open campaigning by PNoy for him, Braganza was soundly defeated by Espino.
Principled politics may indeed be nothing but a mirage. As for “Daang Matuwid,” it looks like the administration party considers it as incompatible with our electoral setup. What wasn’t considered is its impact on governance. With questionable characters now in local government positions courtesy of the LP, the potency of the “Daang Matuwid” slogan will be lost. (khanwens@yahoo.com) Sun.Star Cebu