The Ugly Side of Philippine Politics

In less than two years, the Filipino people will elect a new President along with other national and local officials.

With the on-going organizational changes and the automation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Filipinos can look forward to an honest and credible elections come 2010.

In the Philippines, past elections are almost always tainted with fraud. National and local officials somehow are able to manipulate the electoral system to make it work in their favor. Politicians who are rich and powerful are usually elected to high positions in government even if they are not qualified. Now that the Comelec is committed under a new election law to attain full computerazation by 2010, cheating will no longer be possible as human intervention in the counting process will be minimized. Nationwide counting of votes will be done by machines and winners will be announced immediately.

One reason why instability pervades in the present dispensation is because of the people's doubt on the true mandate of the national leadership. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the current sitting President of the Philippines is facing election protest from political opponents who claim to have been cheated during the last Presidential elections. Legal experts are saying that there are strong evidences that can support the claim of the opposition.

In the Philippines, politics is a way of life. Two years berfore election time, some senators and other politicians who are setting their eyes on the Presidency in 2010, have started throwing "garbage" at each other in order to gain early political mileage. Politicians spend millions of pesos of their own funds to get elected. In contrast, the real legal benefits or remuneration for anyone who gets elected, are so neglegible compared to the income or salary of a top notch executive of a company in the private sector.

But why are these politicians spend millions of pesos just to get elected? Obviously, there is deeper reason other than their implied desire to serve the country.