Why do the Pinoys allow persons with criminal records or cases to run for government office?

President Rodrigo Duterte with former Philippine Presidents
by Presidential Communications Office, Malacanang Palace
under Public Domain.

One of the biggest crimes against the Filipino people is allowing a person with a criminal record or a pending criminal case to vie for a responsible political position even if that person is seeing the four-corners of a jail cell. I was even shocked when I heard Trillanes, who instigated a coup attempt against a previous administration was allowed to run for Senator, a high position in government. Can you believe that a person who commits treason is allowed to run for a political position? And what's even more treacherous, is that Pinoys voted for him and he is now a Senator which I have to swallow seeing on TV when he goes off with his cowardice tirades. Another is former President Estrada who was convicted of plunder; he is now the Mayor of Manila. Under the Philippine law, a public officer who has amassed a wealth of 50 million Philippine pesos (approx. 1Million USD) from public funds will be given the punishment of life imprisonment with the perpetual absolute disqualification from running for government office if convicted of plunder. Unfortunately, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave him a Presidential pardon allowing him to experience the rights of every law-abiding citizen including running for office. Strange that the Filipino who act like self-righteous bigots will allow CONVICTS or EX-CONs or shamed politicians with pending criminal cases to run for a government position whether it be barangay chairman all the way to the Presidency.

Philippine Senator Tito Sotto
by Public Relation and Information Bureau
under Public Domain.

The Philippines is one of the last Democratic countries that allow this. There are no laws that disqualify a convict/ex-con or one with a criminal case from running for office. The jail cell is not a deterrent to vie for a position. This is the sad reality. Although we should be concerned about political dynasties and executing the law that hinders the formation of one, we should also be concerned about formulating laws disqualifying and banning all persons with a criminal record, tried or pending, from ever seeing a government office. I believe that these criminals should concentrate on being a productive private citizen instead, until the day they die.

Unfortunately, the one reason why this has never been an issue is that those criminals HAVE government positions and ARE hindering the formulation of a law that does discredit them from ever running for office again. Take the case of the reinstatement of the death penalty law- for it to pass Congress, all crimes of plunder, graft and corruption, rape, treason and kidnapping were all scrapped leaving crimes related to drugs to hold the ultimatum of the death penalty. Their reason is that for a crime to be considered a heinous crime, a gruesome death has to be involved. Uhm, people in the House of Representatives, each time you steal money from the taxpayers, that money which should have funded better roads for an ailing person to get through, better government hospitals, better feeding programs, and better resources for farmers- you are killing people. May not be as direct as let us say stabbing a person, but that is where it leads. It is very sad that party-list representatives elected to represent the marginalized sectors of society would allow such a thing. This gives prudence to the dissertation that politicians are only after one thing- to have their backs. They are clearly manipulating the law for their own benefit and with clearly 70% ignoramuses populating this country, allow this when they vote for criminals we see seated now.

Senator Trillanes
by Romeo Bugante
under Public Domain

Elections in the Philippines have always been a popularity contest. The poor that comprises the majority of the voting public tends to remember only the names of popular politicians. This is evident, to my dismay, as the likes of Tito Sotto and Manny Pacquiao are now elected Senators. Senator  Sotto is seated once again even after accusations of plagiarism- he translated the speech of Robert Kennedy in Filipino and used it as his as a turno en contra speech for the Reproductive Health Bill.

For regular citizens like myself, when we apply for a job, we have to prove that we are law-abiding citizens by submitting various clearances asked by the HR/company itself. Without those clearances, we will never be entrusted to be employed in the company we wish to work for. If such practice is done for regular Joe's like you and me, in a company that may employ over 1000 people with or without the possibility of ever touching company money or funds, what about government officials who have the luxury of accessible government funding? It also must be proven that the person who wishes to run for public office should be a law-abiding, responsible, and morally sound individual. There should not be even a speck of dust on your pristine track record- because you will be accountable for millions of people and billions of money.

According to an editorial I read on Inquirier.net, the author stresses that politicians steal from the coffers to continue the legacy of politicians for generations to come. He believes that anyone related most especially the 2nd generation, with the inclusion of a time period of 50 years from the time the said politician took office should be banned from ever running from office. This, he believes will stop politicians from stealing. For me, I believe a life style check should be done every year, a percentage increase in wealth should be strictly implemented, all bank accounts should be declared (declared by the bank- junk bank secrecy law) and open for investigation if ever the need arises, as well as bank accounts of wife, children, relatives up to the 3rd blood sanguity and parents, all properties land and luxury bought within the period he attains office should be declared as well as properties of wife, parents, children and relatives up to 3rd blood sanguity, and mandatory death penalty after a speedy trial of only 6 months if proven guilty. Jail time for family members who were used as accomplices. Kung iipitin and mga yan na halos di sila makakakilos, they will break a sweat just thinking of stealing. And this should hold true also for police officers. Those who are sworn to uphold and enforce the law should never divert from following the law.

I also want to take this opportunity to also stress about politicians who are having an affair or have more than 1 family. They shouldn't be elected because they have more reasons to steal- more mouths to feed, and mas maraming luho ang kailangang ibigay. I don't care about the moral implications, I'm concerned with the need of the politician to provide for all those open mouths and open hands.

If the Comelec (Commission on Elections) can disqualify nuisance candidates, I think they should also be tasked to disqualify those with criminal records and pending criminal cases. Along with the certificate of candidacy, aspiring politicians should also submit an NBI clearance, Police Clearance, Barangay Clearance, a clearance from the Supreme Court and a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman. Just like us common people who need a number of clearances when we apply for a job, politicians should also submit clearances to validate their clean record.

To tackle people who keep filing cases without sufficient evidence, the filing of cases should amount to half a million pesos and if it is a bogus case, send that person to jail for 1 month. Irritating to see one person filing so many bogus criminal cases because it only costs a thousand dollars to file a case. Waste of resources.

I have heard rumors of people paying money to pass the civil service exam- people caught should be banned from ever serving the Filipino people and given time behind bars since that is a betrayal of public trust. Hiring an incompetent person is a betrayal of trust. The people should be given the best and the brightest. Their money is worth it.

Another article also stipulated the fact that the Congress is the biggest legal syndicate in the Philippines for they receive huge amounts of funding. Freedom of Information law is needed to allow access to all documents. The public has the right to know where all of you are spending their hard earned money.

If laws cannot be placed to hinder criminal politicians from running for office, then we, the Filipinos, have to stop electing them. It's not black propaganda when you point out that a politician is a criminal because it's the truth. Whether it's plagiarism with copyright infringement or stealing millions, raping children, and maybe murdering someone- you violate the law, then you are not fit. This will create the stigma that even a mere accusation of wrongdoing will bring shame to the politician. Do not be blind supporters- nakakahiya. Mahiya kayo. Di kayo mahiya. When you support criminals, you are accomplices thus, criminals as well.

I hope in the future that someone, anyone will push for the disqualification of all politicians with criminal liability.

-Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay wag magagalit.

-The Pinoy Inquisitor will search again.

Credit to Sources:

Casas, Reynaldo T. "Disqualify political candidates with criminal records", business.inquirer.net

France-Presse, Agence "Jail no barrier to political career  in Philippines" newsinfo.inquirer.net