DEMALASA.
Many are now actively doing the rounds in preparation for the October 30, 2023 barangay elections.
Daghan na lagi ron ang mikalit lang lagi ug ka-friendly.
Kusog na mo-smile, kusog na motabang sa mga problema sa barangay, pirmi na sab makita sa mga kabalayan, nga mora’g mikalit lang ka-interesado sa kahimtang sa mga kasilinganan.
But the problem is – those who will get elected in the October 30, 2023 barangay elections will have less than 3 years in office because the next barangay elections is slated on the first Monday of December 2025.
This is the ramification of the Supreme Court ruling that struck as unconstitutional the law that extends the barangay elections from 2022 to 2023.
* * *
Many were happy with the extension of 1 year, especially the incumbent barangay officials. Usa ka tuig nga dugang sa ilang kalipay.
But many were also sad, especially those who were eyeing for a barangay position and those who found their barangay officials as not only incompetent but also corrupt and abusive.
Imbes pamub-an, gipatas-an na man hinuon ang termino sa mga abusado.
* * *
This could be the first law signed by President BBM that was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
The Presidents before him have also signed a law extending the barangay elections. And nobody questioned the extension before the Supreme Court.
And this presidential “precedents” formed the bulk of their defense when somebody questioned BBM’s EO extending the barangay elections.
But the Supreme Court said “the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, required the conduct of “genuine periodic elections,” which should be held at intervals not excessively long.”
According to the SC, the succeeding barangay and SK elections after the one on Oct. 30, 2023 shall be held on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter, pursuant to RA 11462.
The last barangay and SK elections were held in May 2018.
* * *
Meanwhile, a barangay wannabe is so busy these days.
He wants to step on the footsteps of his father who is also a politician.
He thought that his family name, plus his “good deeds” and “good looks” are formidable credentials in the barangay elections.
When his friends learned about all these pakulo, he was asked if was bent on running on the October 30 barangay elections.
And he right away answered in the affirmative.
Unya naa kay kwarta, kay kanang election ra ba kay kwartahay gyod, was the quick retort.
Mao lagi nay akong problema kay wa koy kwarta. Mangita na lang ko’g paagi nga maka-kwarta, basin dunay kautangan o magpa-utang.
Susko nimo bay, ayaw na lang patuga-tuga og lansad kon wa kay kwarta, galangan-langan lang ka kay di gyod ka kadaog.
And the wannabe was silent as if choked.
* * *
The Mayor is similarly situated.
He won because he was funded solely by his parents. When he ran in the previous elections, all of his parents’ resources were used to ensure his victory.
So he handily won.
Now that the next elections in 2025 is fast approaching, he is deeply worried.
Wa man siyay tinigom kay “mahalon” man pod ang iyang asawa, gawas pa sa pagka-high maintenance.
Unya pirmi rang gabag-o.
So the bigger budget always goes to the shopping spree or retail therapy of the stupid wife.
In fact, this is one of the reasons the mayor will always avoid going out with the other mayors when in Manila, Bohol or in Cebu – he is not ready to pick the tab when they go out for meals or drinks. Lisod baya pod og sigi lang magpa-libre, madungog ra ba na dayon.
Ang resulta, wa gyod tawon natigom ang mayor kay pirming in the red ang ilang budget, thanks to the uncontrolled spending habit of the wife.
Ang iyang problema – unsaon na man lang sa 2025 pohon kon magkampanya na sab?
Asa man siya og kwarta?
Magsalig ra gihapon sa iyang mga parents?
And worse, this time around, his brothers and sisters are no longer that excited about his political life kay wa man pod siyay natabang sa pamilya or sa negosyo sa pamilya. Padung ra man tanan niya ang iyang sweldo apil ang komisyon, wa gyod maapil sa mehoras iyang mga igsoon.
Nagbagotbot man gani iyang ubang mga igsoon kay sigi ra gihapon nagsalig sa ilang parents sa mga kagastohan bisan na-mayor na siya.
This is now the daily headache of the mayor – unsaon na lang ni pohon?
* * *
A member of the provincial board is on the same problem.
He is aiming for reelection, naturally, but his problem is, naturally too, where to fund his reelection campaign.
Gitabangan ra baya siya sa iyang mga ginikanan, wa baya tawon siyay gika-contribute kay tanan-tanan sa iyang mga ginikanan man ang gasto.
And he is naturally ashamed to ask help from his brothers and sisters.
Do you know why?
Kay misulti man siya the last time nga hugot na ang iyang plano nga molansad bahala og di siya tabangan sa pamilya. Kana laging gusto pod mopakita kunohay nga one for all, all for one siya sa iyang desisyon nga mokandidato.
Unya mitubag ra ba pod ang usa sa iyang mga igsoon og – bantay bitaw nang imong hinambog.
So aron di mogawas nga nang-hambog ra siya, wa nay plano nga magpa-tabang pa ang politiko sa iyang sunod nga kandidatora.
Gani, misulti na siya sa iyang mga kauban nga di na siya magpagasto sa iyang mga ginikanan sa sunod election kay uwaw na kuno.
Asa kaha na siya og kwarta noh, was the unspoken question of his colleague in the provincial board.
