The one-month campaign period for the congressional seat of Antipolo City’s second district begins on Thursday this week. The polls are slated for March 14 this year. Seven aspirants have filed their certificates of candidacy in a bid to fill the vacant position.

This is the first time elections for a congressional seat are taking place in the aftermath of the flood-control projects controversy. It will be recalled that several members of the House of Representatives were implicated in the issue in question. The polls are also taking place as debates on the impeachment of national leaders intensify. We are glad that despite the chaos, a good number of civic-minded citizens are still interested in serving in this elective post.

This is also an opportunity to review the role of a congressman and to reexamine whether or not that actual role matches the expectations of voters and the promises the candidates make.

The formal powers of congressmen are awesome. Let us begin with their exercise of legislative powers under Article VI of the 1987 Constitution. Because of this power, congressmen, working with committees at the House, can summon individuals to hearings “in aid of legislation.” The laws they pass carry a significant impact on the social and economic life, not just of their constituents, but of the entire nation.

One of the most important pieces of legislation they pass is the General Appropriations Act, otherwise known as the national budget law. This is where they exercise the so-called “power of the purse.” They scrutinize the proposed expenditures of line agencies, get the latter to defend such proposals, and decide on their fate.

The power to scrutinize enables congressmen to perform their duty as “representatives” of their respective districts. They are able to determine whether or not the line-up of projects put together by various agencies would support and advance the needs and aspirations of their constituencies. In a way, they are the “voice” of their districts at various crucial periods in the process of preparing the national budget.

The money used to fund the projects under the proposed expenditures comes from taxes paid by citizens. How these are allocated and spent determines the kind and speed of social and physical progress that would happen in various parts of the country.

A number of congressmen sit in the powerful Commission on Appointments. This is the constitutional body that either confirms or rejects the political appointments made by the President to certain key positions. They hold the fate of these appointments in their hands.

There are other “fates” that the members of Congress hold in their hands. For example, they hold the fate of government personnel who are subjected to investigation by the various committees of the House. They have the power to hold people and agencies accountable for their actions and decisions as oversight bodies.

In a way, they hold the fate of certain officials, both elective and those appointed to constitutional bodies. Congress has the power to remove impeachable officials, including the President, the Vice President, members of the Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman. Also, Congressmen, together with the Senate, have the sole power to declare that the country is in a state of war. They can also – read this – revoke the President’s proclamation of Martial Law.

In sum, a member of the House of Representatives is in a position to influence the direction of our country, the course of the life of their constituents, and to effect meaningful change.

Voting for one’s representative in Congress should, therefore, not be taken lightly. One’s choice should be the product of intense scrutiny.

We recommend three parameters that voters must subject to close scrutiny: person, platform, and performance.

When examining the “person,” voters must take a look at the candidate’s character. They will never find a political aspirant without fault or flaw, and that is not a problem. As we have said before, people are not voting for a saint. Canonization is better left to the Vatican. Amid the flaws, voters must choose one whose character can be respected and trusted, who has a heart and attitude for service to others, and who they feel would use the power of his office to advance the interests of constituents.

We also recommend that they examine the candidate’s platform. A good definition of a platform is “the reason for running for public office;” the compelling purpose is of a candidate wanting to occupy a public office.

The most crucial among the three bases for a wise choice is performance. Voters must examine the candidate’s track record. What has he or she accomplished in life? What has he or she done to make other people’s lives better? Has the candidate displayed outstanding abilities in innovating, in addressing crisis situations, in creating opportunities for others, and in optimizing scarce resources?

The next representative of Antipolo’s second congressional district will have big shoes to fill.

He will also be joining Congress at a crucial time in history, when this institution is under severe scrutiny.

In this special election, the choice, more than ever, will have to be wise.

(The author is a Doctor of Medicine, an entrepreneur and the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, and DENR assistant secretary, LLDA general manager.Email: [email protected])