Difficult choice for Filipinos

This midterm election is quite polarizing.

The administration’s senatorial slate is composed of reelectionists Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, JV Ejercito; former senators Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada; and newbies Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Zajid Mangudadatu and Jiggy Manicad.

The slate is a major turn off for many as it includes publicly perceived “epal” (Go), “berdugo” (Dela Rosa), “bastos” (Tolentino) and “corrupt” (Revilla, Estrada, Marcos) personalities. Several articles also put these candidates in a bad light.

But remember the last time a national candidate was regularly put in a bad light by the media, and his actions and words publicly criticized?

A tough-talking mayor from Davao City won the presidential election. Foul-mouthed, lacking manners and finesse, and immoral as the candidate was, naysayers and detractors never learned their lesson that any kind of publicity, bad publicity included, is still good. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

On the other hand, the opposition’s senatorial lineup has Bam Aquino, Mar Roxas, Florin Hilbay, Chel Diokno, Romulo Macalintal, Gary Alejano, Samira Gutoc and Erin Tañada.

Their platforms also tap into their strengths: Aquino (education), Roxas (stronger economy), Hilbay (poverty alleviation), Diokno (justice for all), Macalintal (marginalized sector), Alejano (better security), Gutoc (women and children), and Tañada (agriculture).

They are experts in their chosen fields and their only baggage is their affiliation with the previous administration, or the “dilawan” as many call it.

But it appears the opposition aspirants are doing their best to distance themselves from the “Liberal Party” (LP) or “dilawan” tags by not using yellow as their campaign color or flashing the L (for Laban) sign.

Is this an admission that the previous administration failed to deliver well? And will their loyalty be with LP once elected to the Senate?

With all these questions, the coming election is becoming even more polarizing that I might just abstain on May 13, 2019.

OLIVER CACHAPERO JR., [email protected]