Television viewers like me were shocked to see on primetime news the militant groups Anakbayan and Akbayan engage in a word war—and a fray. The groups were exchanging serious accusations, with Anakbayan saying party-list Akbayan members were hypocrites who had ties to Malacañang all the while. The hotheads overpowered the cooler ones.
The Anakbayan members had stormed the press conference of Akbayan in Manila and a heated argument had ensued. What happened next, and what thousands of people saw, was a shameful and shameless display of the two groups’ lack of discipline. Such display of uncivilized behavior discourages people to vote for them and to believe in their platforms. Their behavior was uncalled for and spoke of the kind of people they are. They themselves have unmasked their real selves before the public.
Are these the people who want to decide for us what laws we should have? Definitely they cannot be trusted anymore. For they cannot agree even on very simple matters. We hope and pray that the people will rightly choose the ones who have the genuine heart and deserve to serve them. This early, because of their behavior, the Akbayan and Anakbayan have already lost significant votes.
—MA. ELISA I. TIBAYAN, Malate, Manila