A Supporters' Revolution
Posted by Janvic | Posted in | Posted on 6:10 AM
A Supporters' Revolution (first published on May 6, 2010)
If massive fraud and manipulation is proven, I do not dispute the idea of a people power revolution after the elections. It’s a democratic right of the people. What I find troublesome is that certain groups are pushing for it not because of national intentions but for personal ambitions.
This “undemocratic” call for mass movements after the polls started when Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas said in a DZMM interview that if Mr. Noynoy Aquino loses his bid for presidency, it only means one thing: he was cheated. Roxas is demented enough to have this kind of attitude towards the Philippine elections. It was either a careless remark or a deliberate comment aimed to modify the minds of the voters, especially the supporters of Mr. Aquino.
The controversial statement of Roxas was not revised by the Liberal Party camp. Instead, after a few days, Mr. Aquino himself declared that he is certain that there will be people power if he is cheated. This doesn’t fit well with Roxas’ comment. Though separately made, it’s easy to string their statements together, if Aquino loses, there will be people power because, as Roxas said, he was cheated.
I do not undermine the capacity of our voters to examine the preposterous statements of LP’s standard bearers. But passion usually clouds reasonable judgment. We cannot deny the love of this nation to Mr. Aquino’s parents. However, Noynoy Aquino is not, and will never be, his parents. But no matter how hard we try to justify this, many, unfortunately, still believe the saying kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga.
The recent developments have cemented the claim of Mr. Aquino that only cheating will prevent him from winning. The problem with the compact flash cards of PCOS machines has triggered the doubts of the voters on the efficiency of the automated election system. The Comelec has given Mr. Aquino a “solid” reason to immediately call for people power in case he loses. With the mindset of his followers that he will win, especially after the endorsement of Iglesia ni Cristo, definitely, one word from Mr. Aquino and a "supporters' revolution" is very possible.
We are in a situation now where many believe that the next president will be Mr. Aquino, unless he is cheated. I find it hard to digest that that “many” believe this claim. I hope that I am wrong with my assumption. I hope that the majority will realize that Mr. Aquino can lose his bid without any election manipulation. After all, surveys are not the results of the elections; Iglesia ni Cristo members do not constitute the majority of the voting bloc; and the automated election system can function efficiently even with the problems faced by Comelec a week before the polls.
For Mr. Aquino, please bear in mind that you are, undeniably, an influential figure of this nation. Please stop making, as Amando Doronilla puts it, "inflammatory, provocative and unduly alarmist" statements. You have no basis, nothing at all, that you will win this election. You have been careless in your remarks as regards to your candidacy. Unfortunately, your followers are buying those because your surname is credible enough for them.
As a student journalist, I have always been fighting for the freedom of speech and expression. But I know my limits, Mr. Aquino. I hope you know yours.
For the supporters, whom I think will "kill" for their candidates, I plead that you avoid any irrational and unreasonable actions after the May 10 polls. It will not help our nation. Let's not give the president a reason to proclaim military rule before the oath-taking of the declared winner.
Again, I do not contest a people's revolution if the cause is for the good of this nation. I will, however, vehemently oppose any "unreasonable" and "undemocratic" supporter's revolution that will serve the personal interests of several individuals.
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If massive fraud and manipulation is proven, I do not dispute the idea of a people power revolution after the elections. It’s a democratic right of the people. What I find troublesome is that certain groups are pushing for it not because of national intentions but for personal ambitions.
This “undemocratic” call for mass movements after the polls started when Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas said in a DZMM interview that if Mr. Noynoy Aquino loses his bid for presidency, it only means one thing: he was cheated. Roxas is demented enough to have this kind of attitude towards the Philippine elections. It was either a careless remark or a deliberate comment aimed to modify the minds of the voters, especially the supporters of Mr. Aquino.
The controversial statement of Roxas was not revised by the Liberal Party camp. Instead, after a few days, Mr. Aquino himself declared that he is certain that there will be people power if he is cheated. This doesn’t fit well with Roxas’ comment. Though separately made, it’s easy to string their statements together, if Aquino loses, there will be people power because, as Roxas said, he was cheated.
I do not undermine the capacity of our voters to examine the preposterous statements of LP’s standard bearers. But passion usually clouds reasonable judgment. We cannot deny the love of this nation to Mr. Aquino’s parents. However, Noynoy Aquino is not, and will never be, his parents. But no matter how hard we try to justify this, many, unfortunately, still believe the saying kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga.
The recent developments have cemented the claim of Mr. Aquino that only cheating will prevent him from winning. The problem with the compact flash cards of PCOS machines has triggered the doubts of the voters on the efficiency of the automated election system. The Comelec has given Mr. Aquino a “solid” reason to immediately call for people power in case he loses. With the mindset of his followers that he will win, especially after the endorsement of Iglesia ni Cristo, definitely, one word from Mr. Aquino and a "supporters' revolution" is very possible.
We are in a situation now where many believe that the next president will be Mr. Aquino, unless he is cheated. I find it hard to digest that that “many” believe this claim. I hope that I am wrong with my assumption. I hope that the majority will realize that Mr. Aquino can lose his bid without any election manipulation. After all, surveys are not the results of the elections; Iglesia ni Cristo members do not constitute the majority of the voting bloc; and the automated election system can function efficiently even with the problems faced by Comelec a week before the polls.
For Mr. Aquino, please bear in mind that you are, undeniably, an influential figure of this nation. Please stop making, as Amando Doronilla puts it, "inflammatory, provocative and unduly alarmist" statements. You have no basis, nothing at all, that you will win this election. You have been careless in your remarks as regards to your candidacy. Unfortunately, your followers are buying those because your surname is credible enough for them.
As a student journalist, I have always been fighting for the freedom of speech and expression. But I know my limits, Mr. Aquino. I hope you know yours.
For the supporters, whom I think will "kill" for their candidates, I plead that you avoid any irrational and unreasonable actions after the May 10 polls. It will not help our nation. Let's not give the president a reason to proclaim military rule before the oath-taking of the declared winner.
Again, I do not contest a people's revolution if the cause is for the good of this nation. I will, however, vehemently oppose any "unreasonable" and "undemocratic" supporter's revolution that will serve the personal interests of several individuals.
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