Christian Responsibility in Philippine Politics

1. Christian Responsibilityin Philippine Politics Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR

2. The campaign period has already started and the election fever is spreading throughout the country. • Every time you watch TV, or listen to the radio, or read the newspapers, the topic the dominates is the coming national and local elections. • The question that we should address: What is our responsibility as Christians vis-à-vis Philippine politics?

3. Analysis of the Philippine Political Culture & Electoral Process. Election/Post-Election Scenario • Our Responsibility as Christians vis-à-vis Philippine Politics

4. Philippine Politicsand Electoral Process

5. Politics & Elections • Politics is more than the election. • It is the art of governance, which include the making and of implementing laws. • Politics includes the process of putting people in positions of governance – the electoral process. • Thus, in talking about politics we cannot avoid talking about the elections.

6. Elections – an essential component of the democratic system. It gives the citizens the opportunity to choose their own leaders. Without election, there can be no real democracy. • While most Filipinos tend to take the elections seriously, yet there are also many who have become cynical about elections. They doubt whether it is really a true expression of genuine democracy.

7. Elections Philippine-Style • “A mega-entertainment circus for the public” (CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics) • “A Popularity Contest “ • “A useless competition for power among the various factions within the elite class”

8. An analysis of the kind of candidates running for election and the voting patterns of the electorate will tells us the nature of Philippine politics and electoral process.

9. Candidates for Local Elections(City, Province, Congressional District) • Mostly traditional politicians belonging to political clans or dynasties (including their wives, children, etc). Source of income: land, real-estate, businessmen, logging, mining, gambling, etc. • Celebrities (movie, sports, media etc.) • Cause-oriented politicians, either independent or supported by ideological groups (Bayan Muna, Akbayan, etc).

10. Candidates: National Elections

11. GMA & The K4 • Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Economist, incumbent, daughter of former President Macapagal) • Noli de Castro, Lito Lapid , Bong Revilla, Sonny Jaworski, Sonny Osmena, Miriam Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Mercado, Biazon, et al. (a combination of celebrities and Trapos and balimbings)

12. Strengths devout Catholic Highly educated (PhD in economics) Hard-working and determined Competent cabinet (that includes representatives from Civil Society) Weaknesses Does not keep her word Flip-flops on key issues Perceived as perpetually campaigning Decisions based on political expediency and popularity rather than principles Micro-manager Temperamental (mataray) Controversial husband (Pidal?) GMA

13. FPJ & KNP • Fernando Poe, Jr (Actor) • Loren Legarda, Enrile, Tatad, Jinggoy Estrada, Boots Anson Roa, Jamby Madrigal, Lim, Pimentel, et al. (a combination of celebrities, recyled Trapos identified with Marcos & Erap) • Supported by Honasan and Horacio Morales

14. Strengths Mass appeal especially to lower classes High Emotional Quotient Close ties with Marcoses, Cojuangco, & Estrada Non-trapo & clean image Support from movie industry Weaknesses No political experience, poor qualifications Lacks experience in consensus building Heavy beer drinker & history of getting into fights Perception that he will be a puppet to Trapos FPJ

15. Roco & ANP • Raul Roco (Lawyer, cause-oriented politician) • Herminio Aquino (Uncle of Ninoy Aquino), Yasay, Bong Coo, et al. • Supported by PROMDI (Lito Osmena) and REPORMA (De Villa)

16. Strengths Intelligent Articulate Outstanding Track record in government service Charismatic personality Weaknesses Difficulty in fielding local candidates Weak organization Limited election funds Temperamental Tends to do things all by himself Roco

17. Ping Lacson • Lacson (former military, PNP chief, Erap boy) • No vice-president, no senate slate • Supported by LDP Aquino wing

18. Strengths Definite platform of government Support of he Filipino-Chinese community Well-groomed Non-trapo image Can command blind loyalty Weaknesses Aloof, detached, unpredictable Kuratong rubout case Association with fugitives from justice charged with Dacer case Rumored links with narcopolitics Reports of alleged ill-gotten well stashed in US Ping

19. The Electorate • A,B,C: The Upper Class/Middle Class (30%) • Can be expected to vote intelligently and according to their conscience • Can not easily be swayed by popularity • Can be critical, cynical & frustrated with the electoral process • D, E: Lower Class (70%) • Many tend to vote according to popularity • Can be beholden to their “patrons” • Can easily sell their votes • Youth Vote – 18-24 (35%)

20. Voting Patterns We have seen how many voters are influenced in choosing certain candidates not out of conscience but because of family relationships.  We also know that the popularity of a candidate (often in another field of work such as sports, TV and movies) or the prospects of political and economic rewards, money and gifts--and a wrong sense of utang na loob--are strong factors in people's voting behavior.  Competence, honesty, personal integrity and an acceptable program of government are not primary considerations.  This is why in their campaigns politicians cater to what the voters want in terms of entertainment and gifts of cash or kind.(CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics)

21. Nature of our Electoral Process “More than ever, political patronage, payoffs, and personalities dominate our electoral process, not principles, party platforms and genuine people’s participation.” CBCP Pastoral Statement on the coming 2004 elections

22. Nature of Philippine Politics • Elitist Politics • Patronage Politics • Politics of Personalities rather than Principles & Programs • Popularity, Prestige • Very weak party system

23. What to Expect during the campaign • Negative ad campaign (TV, newspapers) • Political rallies as Entertainment (sing & dance with politicians and movie stars) • Solicitation • Collection of Permit to Campaign (NPA) • Delivery of “goods & services” to barangays (especially depressed areas) • Participation of politicians in religious activities (fiestas, masses, baptism, retreats, weddings, etc.) • Assassinations, harassments of candidates & campaigners

24. “The campaign period turns the Philippine scene into a mad circus, a vast entertainment plaza.  Candidates will, during this period, do whatever their audience bids them to do--in sharp contrast to their deafness to the same people's cries for attention once they are in office.  They will dance, clown, kick-box, sing, use gutter language--anything to sell themselves and heighten "name recall."  In short, they do everything except educate the electorate on issues.  They hire expensive advertizing agencies to polish up their image, often without regard to the truth, and to produce sound-bites and one-liners that will go over well in political rallies and quick interviews on radio and television.  All of which only serve to worsen our personality-oriented brand of politics.” (Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics)

25. People take advantage of the campaign period to ask donations for every conceivable "project" from the candidates who are pressured to give under pain of losing valuable votes.  This in turn forces candidates to solicit or accept contributions from vested interests who expect a return after the elections.  The same goes with the party in power:  It misuses government funds and other resources for electioneering purposes.  When later those guilty become vulnerable to prosecution, they whitewash investigations with the help of proteges previously deployed in strategic agencies, even go to the extent of legislating amendments to "decriminalize" their violations. (Pastoral Exhortation)

26. What to expect on Election day • Generally peaceful • The usual flying voting & vote buying • Harassment & ballot snatching in remote areas • Dagdag-bawas operation

27. Winning at any cost and by any means--this has become the paramount principle governing candidates and parties in their election bid.  This translates on election day itself into vote-buying, the use of "flying voters", the intimidation of voters for the opposition, violence, even murder; and, for turning already cast votes in one's favor, into bribery of election officials, deliberate miscounting of votes, tampering with ballots and election results.  The genius and imagination required for cheating are truly stupendous and are exercised to the full--one would only wish they were used for more noble purposes than achieving undeserved victories for undeserving candidates. (CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics)

28. Confusion is the order of the day in many a community.  And it has to be with the final canvassing of election results and the proclamation of winners, as has already been said, taking an unduly long time to happen.  Every loser cries "foul!", declares himself cheated, and election results are not accepted.  The COMELEC takes its own sweet time deciding on election protests so that when initial verdicts are finally overturned, cheating anomalies corrected, those belatedly declared winners are barely able to assume their seats before the new election takes place. (CBCP Pastoral Exhortation…)

29. Possible outcome: Local Elections • The local government will continue to be dominated by traditional politicians belonging to political dynasties & clans. Some actors will continue to be elected especially in urban centers. • The congress will likewise be dominated by traditional politicians from political clans & dynasties and also from land-owning and business elite • Elections of more progressives in the party list (Bayan Muna, Akbayan, etc.)

30. Possible outcome: National Elections • Scenario 1: FPJ & Noli de Castro • Scenario 2: Roco • Scenario 3: GMA & Noli de Castro • Scenario 4: Ping Lacson

31. Scenario 1: victory for FPJ, NDC • President (FPJ), vice-President (Noli), senators: showbiz with some trapos (Erap & Marcos boys) • Weak, inexperienced, Incompetent & indecisive leadership, manipulated by Erap forces • The silent President? Release of Estrada? • Lack of business confidence, inability to face the challenge of globalization, further deterioration of the economy

32. A sense of hopelessness among the middle-forces, more brain-drain. • Disenchantment among the masses, the idol/messiah fails to come up to their expectation due to incompetence and lack of political will (the Emperor has no clothes) • He could be overthrown by people power or coup if he proves to be a disaster.

33. Scenario 2: GMA & Noli • Election protests from FPJ’s & Roco’s supporters (suspicion that GMA used government funds, machinery, & Comelec to win) • More of the same? • Continuity of previous program & policies (Pro-US, Peace Process, development program, death penalty, strong republic) • Charter change, federalism, parliamentary system ?

34. Scenario 3: Roco • A strong political will that could inspire business confidence • Competent & principled leadership that could rally the nation towards development • Will he adopt liberal/feminist legislative agenda (legalization of abortion & divorce)?

35. Scenario 4: Lacson Wins • “Triumph of Narco-politics?” • Growth of a police state – salvaging, etc. “kamay na bakal” -- iron rule • Political instability and division • Another people power? • Expansion of the revolutionary movement?

36. Whoever wins the Election will face the perennial problems of Philippine Society:

37. The Dark Side of Globalization

38. Poverty & Inequality

39. ) The Moro Problem & the MILF Armed Struggle

40. The Armed Struggle waged by the CPP/NDF/NPA

41. Restive Military, Coup Attempts

42. Politics after the Elections • Exclusive preserve of elected politicians. Passive citizenry • Breaking of election promises • Self-serving laws and policies – politics of self-interest (laws to benefit the politicians, big business and foreign capitalists) • Perpetuation of corruption and patronage politics (to recoup election expenses, and prepare for the next election)

43. “In the Philippines, (politics) degenerated into an arena where the interests of the powerful and rich few are pitted against those of the weak and poor many.  It interferes with the administration of justice and the equal application of the law, heavily weighted as it most patently is on the side of the politically connected.  Political debts are paid with appointments to high offices of those to whom elected officials are indebted, blind loyalty counting as the most important criterion in the selection of public officials--even for government agencies mandated to be independent by the Constitution. 

44. The bureaucracy is packed with political protegees, many of whom do nothing except to collect their salaries on the middle and end of each month.  Thus the well-intentioned among career officials and employees in government become demoralized early or withdraw into silence or resign altogether.  And those who opt to continue despite disillusionment are only too often harassed or eventually coopted into the system. “ (CBCP Pastoral Letter on Politics)

45. Our Responsibility as Christians

46. What is our responsibility as Christians vis-à-vis politics? • We can either ignore it or get actively involve. • Some would dismiss it as a futile & useless exercise that won’t make a difference in the life of the people, especially the poor, “full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” (ignore it) • Others would look at it as a critical period whose outcome will affect the future. (respond to its challenge)

47. Pastoral Action to Transform Politics The main challenge: what pastoral action can we undertake to transform Philippine politics: • Catechesis and Political Education for the Electorate • Evangelization & Moral Formation of Politicians • Mobilizing the parish grassroots network: BECs & Renewal movements for political education and monitoring the conduct of elections • Participation in Political Action beyond the elections • Addressing the problem of poverty – development & poverty alleviation programs

48. Educating the Electorate • The political culture: people tend to vote according to popularity, patronage, regional & financial considerations. • The challenge: How can we educate the electorate, especially in our pastoral areas (parish, community, BECs, etc.) so that they will become critical of the present political culture & candidates, and vote wisely according to their conscience? • The task: conscientization and political education

49. Catechesis and Political Education. “ The most basic work that has to be done is catechesis on politics or Christian education in politics.  At present there is a tragic dichotomy between our faith-life as a people and our political culture.  This dichotomy prevents our faith from having a say in our political activities.  As a result our political culture is characterized by deception, dishonesty, fraud, violence, corruption, pay-offs, and patronage.  Yet most of the participants in the political process call themselves Christians.  Worse, politicians take advantage of their Christianity to promote their interests, as when they are photographed in churches before election time or act as sponsors in baptisms and weddings in order to widen their circle of supporters . (Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics)

50. The Necessity of Voting for the Right People “However, it is also of the utmost importance that we vote the right people to office.  But who are the right persons to vote for?  Whom does God want us to designate to become bearers of that awesome authority which emanates from him (cf. Rom. 13:1)? … In choosing our leaders in the political community it would be most logical to look first at the platforms and programs of the different political parties.  But unfortunately in our country there are practically no differences in the platforms and programs of the different parties.  Proof of this is the ease with which candidates even for the highest offices transfer parties or form alliances when their personal interests suit it.  We need to focus our attention on the qualities needed by our elective public officials. (CBCP)