UCA News
Contribute

Filipinos ready for polls, plan ouster of possible victor

Church needs to be voice of reason at a time of political uncertainty
Filipinos ready for polls, plan ouster of possible victor

People show their support for presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte during a campaign event on April 23 in Manila, Philippines.  (Photo by AFP)

Published: May 02, 2016 05:37 AM GMT
Updated: May 02, 2016 05:44 AM GMT

The leading contender in next month's Philippine presidential election is in trouble. 

Sen. Antonio Trillanes, a candidate for vice president, has exposed what he claims is a paper trail on the hidden wealth of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the leading presidential contender.

The expose comes in the homestretch of a divisive election campaign, at a time when nationwide surveys shop Duterte pulling ahead of his rivals.

Trillanes' first claimed that the Philippine equivalent of US$4 million flowed into a bank account, jointly owned by Duterte and his politician daughter, Sara, on his birthday in 2014. 

On April 29, the senator upped the ante, claiming to hold documents showing 2.407 billion pesos (US$ 51.2 million) in transactions involving 17 of Duterte's  in three banks over a nine-year period. 

The Davao mayor has not revealed any substantial cash assets in the required statement of assets, liabilities and net worth submitted to the government.

The last opinion polls allowed before the election will show whether the charge of corruption dents Duterte's "teflon charm."

"The Duterte vote is the voice of angry Filipinos … fed up with corruption at all levels of our society, and frustrated that the gains of the [Benigno] Aquino administration do not translate into their improved welfare and safety," said national artist for literature Francisco Sionil Jose.

National and international condemnation of Duterte's human rights records and jokes about rape, gay people and people with disabilities failed to stop his rise in the opinion polls. Now the people's champion, who boasts of a simple lifestyle, is accused of hiding more than US$50 million in unexplained wealth.

Duterte has been challenged to sign a waiver on his bank accounts. Other candidates have. He has refused, citing due process. It is an irony lost to supporters who cheer him when he talks about gunning down criminals. He warned two independent government agencies on April 28 against hampering his methods of law enforcement.

If the corruption charges fall on deaf ears, it will be because voters repudiate the call for "continuity" by the Aquino government. There is palpable aversion toward the administration. Making it worse is public perception that the president's allies have scenarios to swiftly change any elected leadership with their vice presidential bet — the respected but untried widow of a departed interior secretary known for probity.

Aquino's chosen heir, Mar Roxas, lags behind Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe, and Vice President Jejomar Binay. Administration supporters have publicly spoken about resurrecting Poe's citizenship issue, which the Supreme Court has dismissed. Binay faces charges of plunder.

Trillanes officially backs Poe although he is not her preferred running mate. He has threatened to immediately impeach Duterte if the mayor retains his hold on the electorate.

The backers of the administration have warned Filipinos against electing leading vice presidential bet Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, the son of the late dictator. But the relish with which Aquino's supporters discuss ouster scenarios can harden the resolve of anti-administration voters.

Philippine bishops, meanwhile, have been very critical of Duterte's human rights record and his treatment of women. Yet, bishops and priests ministering to the grassroots also say they understand the historical anger that has made Duterte an attractive candidate.

While church leaders have also warned against the dictator's family returning to power, bishops are equally critical of the human rights violations under Aquino's government and the lack of response to complaints by the poor.

If Duterte wins, he isn’t going down without a fight. Already, he has threatened to abolish Congress if faced with impeachment. His supporters vow to fight on the streets of the capital and in rural villages to defend their president.

Both the administration candidate and Duterte are known to have segments of the military behind them. Both candidates have strong support from the oligarchy, though Duterte likes to present his candidacy as an Obama-style campaign funded by the masses.

The scenario is hewing close to that of Thailand, where the haves and the have-nots have been waging internecine strife.

The Philippine church, however, has seen mighty battles between elite forces before.

"When these turn violent, it is the poor that suffers most," says Father Benjamin Alforque, MSC, a theologian who hosts broadcast and digital programs on the Gospel.

He fears that those who work with the poor will be the first targets of forces out to destabilize a new government.

Whatever the results of the elections, the biggest winners are the country's political dynasties, according to Alex Lacson, an author of inspirational books and a devout Catholic who campaigns against influential political families.

Lacson expects dynasties to take up to 90 percent of all electoral seats this year. The dynasties field scions to different political camps to ensure continuity of power.

The church's biggest challenge is helping build strong, vigilant communities that can withstand pressures by fighting powers, Father Alforque said. 

The Church-run Communications Foundation for Asia has started social media training workshops for priests and lay leaders to help Catholics "spread truth" about the communities they live in.

Father Joselito Jopson, head of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communication, said priests need to immerse themselves in social media to keep up with their flock.

At a time of peril, where political camps spend big money to manipulate social media, the voice of the Church is needed to be the voice of reason.

Inday Espina-Varona is an editor and opinion writer for various publications in Manila.

 

 

 

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia