Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Will You Vote According To Clan?

At 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Oct. 5, 2012, the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the May 2013 midterm election finally ended. According to the Commission on Election (Comelec), a total of 294 Aklanons filed their COCs for the respective elective positions in the government they thought they are highly capable to perform the duties appurtenant to the positions for the good of the people of Aklan. 

The Comelec reported: There are two candidates each for Governor and Vice Governor. Only one each will win. Four candidates are vying for Congressman for the Lone District of Aklan. The positions for Sangguniang Panlalawigan are 10: five for the east side and five for the west side. For the 17 municipalities, there are 33 candidates for mayor. Of these candidates, only 17 will win. There are 32 candidates for municipal vice mayors. Of these candidates, 15 are going to lose. The 17 municipalities require each eight sangguniang bayan members, therefore 136 will be elected while the 64 candidates of the 200 will lose.

Law On Nepotism

The classified positions in the government are covered by the Civil Service Law such as the positions of provincial engineers, chief accountants, teachers and planning officers among others. They cannot be appointed if they do not qualify to the position applied for such as education and training, experience, age, and civil service eligibility. An applicant cannot also be appointed even if he/she is highly qualified if the appointing officer is a close relative as provided for by the Law On Nepotism. 

But this civil service laws and law on nepotism are being circumvented by elective officials. They create positions co-terminus with the elective officials’ term of office. They usually justify its creation by calling its functions “highly confidential”.

Relatives

Under the Civil Service Law, elective positions are called “exempt service”, the civil service laws do not apply to them. Elective officials do not submit daily time record. Their qualifications are simple: Filipino citizen, a registered voter. There is no age limit but with fixed term. They earn the positions by election. 

And this method of participating in governance by election is gaining popularity among the Filipino clans. This year, there are several clans who aim to get elected either for senator, congressmen, governor, vice governor, mayor, vice mayor or members of sangguniang bayan.

In the national level, there are the Cayetano clan, Aquino clan, Binay clan and other clans aspiring to get elected. How about in Aklan? Let us go over the list of candidates.

There is the Tumbokon – Miraflores clan. Hon. Florencio T. Miraflores is the incumbent congressman. Since his nine year term will end on June 30, 2013, he is also aiming to be the provincial governor. He was Mayor of Ibajay, and three term Aklan governor before he was elected governor. 

Miraflores’ beloved wife, Maria Lourdes M. Miraflores is the mayor of Ibajay. She has also filed her COC for re-election. Their son, Jose Enrique Miraflores is Aklan SP member who is also seeking re-election. 

Rep. Miraflores’ first cousin, Kasangga Partylist Rep. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr. is also a candidate for Congressman for the Lone District of Aklan in the May 2013 midterm election.

SP member Victor Manuel M. Garcia has filed his COC for Mayor of Ibajay while his brother, Roberto M. Garcia, Jr., former Mayor of Ibajay is now a candidate for SP member. 

Mayor Antonio T. Maming of Banga wishes to represent Aklan in congress as congressman. His loving wife, Erlinda M. Maming aims to take over as mayor of Banga.

While vice governor Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo is seeking re-election, her brother Teodoro V. Calizo, Jr. is likewise asking to return to his post as Mayor of Balete. He has no opponent. 

Libacao

In Libacao, it is father and two sons team. The son, Vincent I. Navarosa is a candidate for mayor with his father, the now Mayor Charito I. Navarosa is his running mate as vice mayor. Another brother Winston P. Navarosa is a candidate for SB member of Libacao. 

Like Libacao, Madalag has also a father and son team. Rolando R. Inosanto is a candidate for Mayor. His son, Orlando R. Inosanto, Jr. is his vice mayor. 

In Numancia, there is a triumborette. Atty. Pepito M. Iligan is running for mayor. His running mate is his brother, the incumbent mayor of Numancia, Atty. Adolfo M. Iligan. Their sister, the present barangay chairman of Dongon West, Numancia, Hon. Susan I. Francisco is a candidate for SB member in Numancia.

Who are the most reliable persons to depend to? Nobody else but their relatives, members of the clan. How about that? Please tell if you will not vote to a clan. If not, why not? /MP