Politicians to watch but not to vote for

Please allow me to comment on the article “Campaigning? Just doing job, say pols” (Front Page, 6/9/15). “Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista has urged civil society and poll watchdog groups to be more active against ‘premature’ campaigning,” the article says.

In my experience as a former municipal councilor of Aparri, I firmly believe that once a politician is elected into office, what he or she does as an elected official contributes to his or her reelection into the same office or election into a higher post. However, he or she should not use his or her office to get reelected. Any politician who does that does not deserve our votes.

I also believe that the best campaign material of any politician is his or her exemplary performance as an elected official. In legislation, the finest campaign material of a local or national legislator is his or her legislative performance. Did he or she sponsor many bills? Are there local ordinances or laws which he or she authored? Did he or she actively participate in the deliberation of legislative measures? Any politician who works extremely well in his or her job should not worry about not getting elected or reelected into office.

On the other hand, it is dishonorable and contemptuous for any politician to go around the country not because he or she has a government job to do or it is a part of the mandate of his or her office but just to see and be seen by voters. Also, it is shameful if a politician uses the resources of the government, particularly his or her office, to advance his or her political agenda and not programs of the government.

With practically most of the politicians now in campaign mode, indeed the distinction between working as a government official and campaigning has blurred. I suggest that we the electorate should be more cautious and discerning about politicians visiting our turfs. We should be on guard always against every politician who hops from one town to another or into barangays and claims that he or she just want to feel the pulse of the people, not to popularize or promote government programs.

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, National Executive Board, Ang Kapatiran Party, [email protected]