"Like others before, we too are being hostaged by the system."
These were the very words of a politician when asked about vote buying this
coming election. It was a sad acceptance of disgust with no option to do
something different. This affliction has been rooted so deeply in Butuan's
political process that no one is serious anymore of finding a cure.
Narratives about Butuan's electoral anomaly are as interesting to read as
literatures to a bowl of salad. Nobody cares. The whole city population knows
about it already. Places around the country are also aware of how Butuan
politics behave. This ailment is as ordinary as common cold. So why bother
talking about it when it is hopelessly untreatable? We may as well accept it
as normal conduct and maybe even pride ourselves to have finally owned an
undying culture.
The after effect of a fraudulent election is also common knowledge. There's
really nothing new to add to previous rhetoric. It's crystal clear considering
that this crookedness has been on going every election for more than half a
century. One needs not to be a rocket scientist to visualize consequences. We
don't have to look very far either to compare our city with others.
Facilities to augment living condition are far below acceptable. Tap water is
not suited for drinking. It smells when use for bathing. It serves well to
bottle it instead and sell as medicine. It's a sure cure to constipated
balikbayan. Law and order is taken for granted. Compliance to traffic lights
seems voluntary. It appears to be just suggestions. This explains why it's tiny
and somewhat shy and lonely.
The city must have an intense love affair with overhead wires and cables. It's
a jungle up there and dangerous. It's obstructing the view of the moon. It's
not even healthy for birds to hang around. Sidewalks around the plaza are
seemingly designed for elderly and handicapped people to stumble. Likewise,
proprietors of stores downtown have some kind of a free hand in constructing
their own private sidewalk at will.
Psychedelic lighting at the park attracts nefarious characters like moth to the
light. This kind of setting entices street's shady entrepreneurs to ply their
trades and habits. Whoever thought of this must have been clinging desperately
to resist leaving adolescence. The city has only one park and it will be
wonderful to make it respectable again for all ages.
The above cases in point are just tiny bites from big items as environment,
civic and social management and others. It sounds comical, but it brings to
illustrate neglect and shortsightedness. All that was and is about Butuan is in
essence influenced by society's tolerance to absorb with gain the enigmatic
misconduct towards election provisions for quite sometime.
Therefore, from the hands of a bribable society, Butuan is what it is today.
It's quite amazing how a community of upstanding citizens could accept this
contemptible behavior with a smile. It's pretty obvious that expected public
service from politician elected through this method is likened to cannibal's
interest towards the missionary.
There is a wild notion that the recent rise in crime is somehow related to
corruption as end-result from tainted election. This supposition is absolutely
irresponsible when aim towards the integrity of current leadership. However, it
is not entirely out of context when taken as a dreadful possibility to occur
upon sensing the kind of climate the city is in today.
The frequency and intensity of criminal offenses lately strongly suggest
connection with organized group. The rules therefore are changed. It's no
longer a penny ante game. The city is suddenly dragged into big time dilemmas.
What makes it fearful is the thought that counter measures for deterrent and
safeguard directly or from its effect are hardly at hand. Butuan is not
adequately prepared for this.
What is further disturbing is the prospect that underworld revenue may drip
into the campaign of insidious political candidates. The weak and already
abused political system and the dubious ethics of the bribable electorates
could make this scenario possible. It will then be an abomination too difficult
to reconcile.
Chances are that a Bugsy Moran runs Caraga's old Chicago town.
Yes, boring as it may, but the plea for honesty is never out of style. Broken
record keeps on playing and instead of getting irked, for goodness sake takes
heed. Current condition demands a change in attitude. It's the most effective
solution. It too is good for the soul, to our city and all.
Vote buying is surely not the invention of the present. It is inherited.
Generations come and go while sinful deeds remain. They had reasons. It was
their world. We have ours today.
Let it go!
