OPINION AND OPTION
By ELINANDO B. CINCO
Elinando B. Cinco
(We give way to the author of this treatise – Dr. Ricardo S.D. Ledesma – a retired general practitioner physician, who resides at No.12 Hanna Street, Filinvest Homes-2 Batasan Hills, Quezon City. He served as a volunteer and officer of the PPCRV Metro- Manila for 12 years. He is also a Papal Awardee,”Pro-ecclesia et Prolifice,” 2001. His e-mail: [email protected])
With barely five days after the May 13 mid-term election, two common questions are still being heard from the electorate. First, what do we expect from the winning candidates to improve our life? Second, what new reforms in terms of good government and values do we expect from the new leaders?
These two questions are addressed to each one of us and certainly expect different answers from all levels. In the Gospel John 8:21-3, we are told that like the Jews who came from below -- we can never understand each other because some of us come from different levels.
We need to go up to the level of Jesus. We have experienced in several elections in the past still the basic questions our electorates asked: What happened with the promises of our leaders to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, give jobs to the jobless, protect the rights and dignity of the helpless, eradicate graft and corruption?
Grand preparations for the election started March 29, 2019, first day of the campaign period. The entire community was well decorated in a festive mood, a budget of P3 to 5 per registered voters was allotted for campaign materials, programs and activities.
Repeatedly, I asked myself, “What are we preparing for?”
While kneeling in prayer inside our parish Adoration Chapel, the same related question of Jesus rang in my ears: “What are you looking for?” I recall last October, 2018, Pope Francis came out with one of the strongest statements against the death penalty, to quote: “No matter how serious the crime that had been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
Other popes had spoken out fairly strongly against the death penalty: “You know the Church has never been soft on crime. We believe people have the right to defend themselves, but this isn’t defense. It is homicide. It is using violence against violence. And it is not the teaching of the Gospel. And taking another life does not contribute to healing.”
In the presidential election in 2016, the promises of the then candidates and of those who won are still fresh in the minds of the electorate.
The most unforgettable prize-winning promise that convinced the 16 million voters to bring our beloved Mr. Duterte to the presidency was “to solve the country’s drug menace in three months.”
Later the President requested “to give him six months.” With a sad note the “state-sponsored” pivot project “Oplan Tokhang” in his war against illegal drugs resulted in continuous killings and executions of thousands of people who were mere suspects -- “alleged” drug addicts, drug pushers and users, mostly poor people in depressed areas, street vendors, farmers, priests, epileptic patient, professionals. Most have not been charged and proven guilty.
As a faithful Filipino citizen, I had that privilege to have actual experiences on past elections as a member of the citizen’s arm Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting (PPCRV) from 1992 to 2004. Its motto of “Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful” was our primary goal in our efforts, programs for candidates and voter’s education. The basic leadership qualities of credibility, competence, integrity, and God-fearing were emphasized.
However, the most striking issue during our campaign crusade that keeps bothering me is still existing -- the “evils of politics.” As early as the first three national elections, the three identified evils were guns, goons and gold.
But beginning in the 1992 national elections, an added evil of greed came to fore. And the 2019 national election, a fifth evil of godless-fear came into existence as a dominant villain. With these five evils of guns, goons, gold, greed and godless-fear, the overall situation in our country seems getting worse, with abrasive and uncouth language spoken against the Catholic Church.
The President’s astonishing statements during a meeting with business leaders on April 3, 2019, warning critics that “he would suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, order their arrest, and declare a ‘revolutionary government’ before the end of his term” gave a clear indication that the President is losing his “promise” to end the “war on drugs.”
As we are still in a deeper mood of the Easter season, let us learn a lesson from our experiences in past elections. Let us recall the teachings of the Gospel -- that Jesus is the true Light and perfect revelation of truth and love, the one in whom we find what we are looking for.”
The latest statement of our President on his warning statement, with a feeling of disappointment in his “war on drugs” that he promised to solve, should help us in choosing our future leaders. Let us confess our failures, mistakes, and belief in empty promises. In choosing our leaders, let us discern deeply what is in our hearts and ask for God’s guidance.
In conclusion, let us pray. “A Prayer for Peace” by Saint John Paul II:
“O God, Creator of the universe, Who extends Your paternal concern over every creature and guides the events of history to the goal of salvation, we acknowledge Your Fatherly love when You break the resistance of mankind and, in a world torn by strife and discord. You make us ready for reconciliation. Renew for us the wonders of Your mercy: send forth Your Spirit that He may work in the intimacy of hearts, that enemies may begin to dialogue, that adversaries may shake hands, and peoples may encounter one another in harmony. May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace which will extinguish all argument, for charity which overcomes hatred, for pardon which disarms revenge. Amen.”
Praise be to God.