Eye Opener
Choose God-fearing Barangay and SK officials
Dedicated, honest and God-fearing candidates for Punong Barangay, Kagawad and SKs should be thankful to Senate President Manny Villar, Senate Minority Leader Nene Pimentel and other opposition senators for frustrating the pro-GMA senators who wanted the election postponed again to May 2009. Newspaper, radio and even survey reports favor the holding of the new election for barangay and SK officials as many incumbent officials have already outlived their usefulness as countless of them are old, corrupt and their term of office has long been overdue.
For the young voters they want new leaders who are not tainted with corruption and anomaly in their barangay domain. There are reports that drug addiction, gambling, unstable peace and order condition prevail in many barangays that residents want new breed of leadership. Homeowners want their subdivisions protected from "akyat bahay" gang; students from harassment of tough guys; foreigners especially Koreans are molested by thugs in the barangays with some officials reportedly unable to bring the culprit to the attention of the police. There are cases where the residents reported the trouble makers in their barangays but since these offenders are allegedly close to the powers that be in the barangays the case vanished in thin air.
So there is a very good reason why overstaying barangay and SK officials should have a fresh mandate from their constituents. Democracy will be kept alive and burning once barangay voters are given a chance to elect qualified and responsible officials, rather than let them stay on to their position lengthily because our irresponsible lawmakers want to reportedly spend the barangay funds for another white elephant projects where many skeptics say the kickback is overwhelming. Can a public official build mansions, maintain expensive-luxurious cars-wagons, keep boxes of jewelries, bank deposits in nine figures in several banks; buy homes in the U.S., etc. if they will derive their income from their salaries? The lowest paid public official is receiving P30,000 a month salary. In one year, the total salary is P360,000; in three years, P1.08 million and his nine years in office, the amount is P9.7 million. How about his expenses for nine years? About P7 million! Where will he get the more than 200 million-peso expensive and luxurious possessions?
Why can't they not stop enriching themselves? Are they blind to thousands of Filipinos dying of hunger, sickness and poverty?
Do they still have conscience and merciful heart? Corruption is of Satan while righteousness is of God. Remember dishonest government officials and personnel, God is still in control of the universe and the life of man.
Let's go to the polls on October 29 and choose Godly barangay and SK officials. Voters have a big responsibility to God Almighty if they sell their sacred vote for a few pesos and suffer the consequences later. They barangay is to be the last bulwark of democracy and if we fail to exercise our right of suffrage because of money, then Satan triumphs over us.