“The political process does not end on Election Day. Young people need to stay involved in the process by continuing to pay attention to the conversation and holding their leaders accountable for the decisions they make.” –Patrick Murphy

For those who have been following political events in Iloilo City and the Western Visayas over the past 30 years, there is an inkling of what will unfurl over the next few days before Monday’s midterm elections. While the styles and methods of wooing voters has not changed dramatically—they still use traditional (and decrepit) approaches—the only difference is social media.

Candidates still pin their hopes on the much-abused “masa” with hyperbolic statements of “I feel what you feel,” I am one of you,” “I know what’s wrong with our society,” and “I am here to help solve the poverty;” however, with social media, fake accounts have proliferated, many making their way into the mainstream, with intentions of spreading rancid information to destroy the reputation of rivals.

Crystal balls, which have shunned implausible surveys, have started to flicker and their scientific forecast may give some prominent political personalities hypertension, especially those with no plans whatsoever who face possible defeat (and have likely already accepted their fate).

Damning realities

Since democracy was restored following the 1986 EDSA Revolution, here are some of the damning realities that have been learned and discovered.

The Philippines has one of the most expensive electoral exercises in the world. With candidates and political parties forced (or obligated) to spend million, much of that cash is poured into “blocktime” media promotions; “payola,” or paying money for promotions, to local officials, media personalities, and law enforcement; campaign materials; and vote-buying. Money—oodles upon oodles of it—remain a key factor in neck-and-neck rivalries.

Additionally, candidates who consistently top surveys but lose by not engaging in “vote-buying” are the first to make noise about being victims of “massive fraud,” claiming they lost because their opponent “engaged in vote-buying.”

Barangay officials also pocket money set aside for vote-buying. While they may have a list of recipients, sometimes the money never reaches them. Fraud and cheating are very much apparent within the realm of vote-buying.

Money can also influence members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), both of which are sworn to maintain peace and neutrality.

Some candidates use empty promises to attract voters but are unable to covert large audiences into votes; popularity alone is not enough to win.

Party loyalty is a sham; only fools believe a political party would help pull them up when push comes to shove. The truth is, in the day and weeks prior to election day, some candidates already adopt a “kanya kanya” system, or a “mansig salbaranay na ta” position (save your own ass and I’ll save mine). Plus, treachery often occurs in the eleventh hour with practices such as horse trading, changing and dropping, party line crossing and swapping, “solo flight,” “Judas handshakes” and kisses, “devil’s pact,” and cheating.

Also, some teachers assigned to facilitate the elections, along with poll officials, are in cahoots with candidates and willfully and intentionally cheat.

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Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ