Your conscience and your vote

At Feedback tonight, we will take up with Toti Ramos and Modi Sa-onoy, CARP and its extension or extinction on Feb. 9, 2008.

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Election is just 18 days away. Then, after that all the animosities, all the hurt on the attacks and counter attacks during the campaign will be over.

And we go back to our normal life again.

By this time most of the voters have their minds made up whom to vote for. But there are still a few undecided. Even those who are going to get the money, have their minds made up.

This is addressed to the undecided. We must help educate them.

There is one group headed by Mr. Romulo Cordova. Not the Muloy Cordova, a CPA, a close friend of Digoy Montalvo. I found out there are many Romulo Cordovas. He heads a group called Crusade for Social Advancement and Security. He has some 4,000 members, he said.

Cordova said, he educates his members on responsible citizenship.

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Now, I go back to my theme, for whom do we vote? Search your conscience who of them can give better service to our people.

The common basis is the three guidelines, too generalized: the "maka-Dios" (pro God), "maka-tao" (pro people) and "maka-bayan" (pro country).

The problem is every candidate always claims to be pro God. Some even go to communion everyday, just for show. And they always speak about God but …

There are also those whose heart "bleeds for the people." And they speak of their patriotism. But, all lip service.

You have no choice because they are all charging each other of being corrupt. You tell yourself, you choose the lessor evil. But, evil no less.

My own guide is simple, just get a performer. And don't just believe what a candidate says. Look at his record.

One Opposition senatorial candidate is very well known for his crusade supposedly for good government. But his record in Congress as a lawmaker is very disappointing, What can we expect from him? Noise again and talk?

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I have my own personal decision whom to vote for among Senatorial candidates. Who of them have a sterling performance record?

If they are not reelectionists how did they perform in their previous job?

The same criteria for me goes with the congressional, mayoral, vice-mayoral candidates. Who of them have the best performance record? Disagreed or quarreled with some of them? Never mind. One should not subordinate the welfare of the country to his feelings.

That's my own thinking. Councilors? It is here that your mettle will be tested. Did you study the record of each on how did each perform?

You will find out it is very interesting. So many glib talkers, you will find out their performance record is empty. The bottom line is, what has he done?

If you ask all these candidates, at the end of nine years, granting they get reelected twice, how would each like to be remembered?

Sad but true. I have not yet found one who has a vision of working on a project that will stand as his monument. A leader must leave a monument.

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A good leader is one with a messianic complex. A Messiah is one whose obsession is to deliver his people from their enemies and bring them to triumph of prosperity and peace.

Only when you have a messianic complex can you perform. Some people run for public office to make money. Take the Senators. There are those who spend many millions for the election where the salary is so small.

Who they are, you make your research. Let your conscience work.

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I know my friend Panay News Editor Danny Fajardo is happy with his nemesis, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez getting flak left and right by his promising the barangays in Iloilo City where his son Raul Jr. is running for reelection, a hefty "incentive" if they make a clean sweep of 12-0 of administration Senatorial candidates.

The problem here is because of the promised reward, the leaders will cheat, just to get the reward.

It is on this that we believe Malacañang must put its foot down and Comelec must say no.

President Arroyo and Comelec must make this election credible, peaceful, and honest. She should not give the Opposition enough ammunition to make her remaining three years a more miserable one and the winning administration Senators be questioned on their legitimacy.

Are we going back to square one again?*

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