To continue our coverage for the May 2007 polls, here are seven questions which hopefully would help us determine whether our politicians are too powerful for our own good. If they are too powerful, then maybe it’s about time to vote for other candidates.
1. Have they been in politics for too long?
2. When applying for a government job, do you have to get their blessing or endorsement?
3. Do they have other family members in government positions whether elective or appointive?
4. When they reach their term limit (three consecutive terms), do they run for another position or do their spouse or child or brother or sister or in-law or any relative run for the position they are vacating?
5. Do they buy votes?
6. Do they use the pretense of providing basic government services (which the government should provide in the first place) to entice you to keep supporting them?
7. Do they have any significant accomplishments to show for the years they have been in power?
I’m going to answer the above questions using Mt. Province Congressman Victor Dominguez as an example since he is from my province. Alangan namang I will evaluate Apayao Congressman Elias Bulut eh I’m not a part of his constituency.
Okay, here’s my personal reading on whether my Congressman, Rep. Victor Dominguez, is too powerful for my own good.
1. Has he been in politics for too long?
Yes! Noong bata pa ako Congressman na siya; panahon pa iyon ni Macoy.2. When applying for a government job, do you feel that you have to get his blessing or endorsement?
Yes! Job applicants troop to his office/home for endorsements. Parang “Godfather” tuloy ang dating. Why applicants would think that they have to kowtow to him to get a government job is an indicator of his power.3. Does he have other family members in government positions whether elective or appointive?
Yes. His wife is a Presidential Assistant (of something), an appointive political position.4. When he reached his term limit (three consecutive terms), did other family members run for his post.
Yes. His wife ran and won as Congresswoman when his term limit was up sometime in the late 1990s.5. Does he buy votes?
I cannot say categorically that he does.6. Does he use the pretense of providing basic government services (which the government should provide in the first place) to entice people to keep supporting him?
Yes. The scholarships he gives to students (and meron din yata siyang binibigay na Philhealth cards but I’m not sure) which he funds from his pork barrel funds is a good example.In fairness to the Congressman, he is just working with the system. So as long as there is pork barrel for Congressmen/Congresswomen, we shouldn’t be finding fault too much on how they decide to dispense their pork barrel (unless ibinubulsa lang nila). Ang dapat gawin is to remove those pork barrel and give the money directly to government agencies.
7. Does he have any significant accomplishments to show for the years that he has been in power?
Maybe the Mt. Province State Polytechnic College, the establishment of some hospitals, the nationalization of some schools. But these are run-of the mill things that Congressmen do. I guess my beef against the Congressman is that despite all his years in power, Mt. Province still has the worst road network in the Cordilleras.
So is he too powerful for my own good? You bet he is. Now it’s your turn to evaluate your own politician.
Note: You might want to try the image generator I used for George W. Bush above for your blog. It’s free so it’s worth a try.
RELATED POST: Cordillera Election Roundup: Run Lola Run; Hey Look, Your Congressman is Working. IMAGE CREDIT: says-it.com.
quoted this great post on my blog.
truly nice work, kailian.
LOOK AT WACNANG OF KALINGA, a truly silencer corrupt when we are talking of guns…silencer because his coruption can’t be heard..he simlply invest outside kalinga..dear god pag nakita mo mga properties nya kalinga you will conclude he is not corrupting but outside kalinga my god guide him dami dami condo nya sa metro manila pati abroad not to mention thailand and hongkong….
There hasn’t been a change in all the provinces of CAR in ages. If you’re moneyed (da trapos), u win!
That’s why I love da Baguio voters!! They at least use their heads. If they sensed you are wayward, most likely, u are voted out..next month, my hunch is Pines Ct will see a new solon…cheers..
TruBlue
Hi Jester,
Thanks for visiting and for linking to this post. Hope you had a good weekend 🙂
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for visiting and for your comment. Very interesting ang allegations mo ha. If it is true (I’m not saying it is not, just that I don’t know anything about it and do not have the facts)then hopefully those who know something would bring out more factual information (address ng condo, picture ng condo, etc). Eh kung hindi naman totoo, then we hope that this kind of propaganda is discontinued because it is not helping anybody. But its election period now so I guess there will be more freedom of speech hehehe. Thanks again 🙂
Hi TruBlue,
Talaga ha. I would not be complaining if we do have a new solon from Baguio 🙂
Is he running for congressman again ? what for!!!!! they (wife &family) have bled the system for years!!!!!!haven’t they got enough doughs? can’t they just leave the igos alone? i can go on here but you know promising these people good roads (what roads) ,schools(whatever)etc…to tell you the truth this kurakot has to stop and i would like to tell the people of Mountain Province to PLEASE not to accept 100 pesos (what a cheek) just to vote for these useless leaders kuno……. one last thing to you mr dominguez i believe in KARMA so i hope what you have done to this poor igorots won’t come back to haunt you one day@!!!!!!!
Hi Anonymous,
Like you, I want another Congressman. Ngem anya ngay ket isuna ti ibotbotbotos dagiti kailiyan nga taga-Montanosa. Thanks for visiting and your comment. We hope you continue to visit us in the future.
I agree with your comment anon.about corrupt poli but I still can’t blame them. Most enter politics to amass wealth & I could have done it too if I stayed in Phil.and why not. We the people maintain a mechanism where corruption tribes.wake up pinoys no vote selling,monitor n document gov’t money going to provinces n towns in d form of projects,laws requiring politicians to explain why their current wealth exceeds their total salary for the past 3 terms in government,ask Pres.Arroyo what is she going to do about it, and finally, avoid treating elected government officials like gods but equals.
Hi Downunder,
Yup agree with your points especially the last one, i.e., treating elected officials as equals. It would really be hard to make them accountable for their acts if we treat them like gods. Thanks for joining our discussions here, we hope you continue to do so.
please be informed that the Congressman of MP Victor S. Dominguez passed away yesterday (Feb. 08, 2008).
Ti Dios laeng ti mangipa-inana kaniyana. Dios met lang ti alwad na
Please be informed that the late Hon. Rep. Victor Dominguez will lie in state at his residence in Military Cut-off, Baguio City and will be buried there as well on 16 Feb 08. He will not be buried in Sabangan as previous reports narrated.
This is coming in very late, but I’d like to do it all the same! I’ll do this for Congressman Chungalao of Ifugao, because he’s the representative of my province.
1. Have they been in politics for too long?
Not really. He ran for congressman in 2001 with next to no political experience and he’s finishing his term in 2010. So far parang wala naman siyang plano tumakbo ulit…
2. When applying for a government job, do you have to get their blessing or endorsement?
I don’t know, haha.
3. Do they have other family members in government positions whether elective or appointive?
Only one ata…yung anak niya ata ginawang secretary. Kung sabagay, sabi ng prof ko sa Law okay daw yun…personal secretary mo kailangan someone you can trust…
4. When they reach their term limit (three consecutive terms), do they run for another position or do their spouse or child or brother or sister or in-law or any relative run for the position they are vacating?
‘di pa dumating dito eh…
5. Do they buy votes?
Hindi naman nung bumoto ako. And so far parang wala akong narinig na ganun tungkol sa kanya.
6. Do they use the pretense of providing basic government services (which the government should provide in the first place) to entice you to keep supporting them?
No. Not that I’m aware.
7. Do they have any significant accomplishments to show for the years they have been in power?
Yes! Nung first term nga niya may special award siya for being the most productive na first-term congressman. Haba ng listahan ng mga significant projects niya. Note, *significant* lang yun.
Sorry, mayabang at proud, hehe. Peace! 🙂