Youth Group Calls for ‘End Game’ for Politicians with Graft Record

A campus-based youth group in Cebu has appealed to the electorate to be circumspect in choosing their candidates for Monday’s mid-term election, urging them to refrain from voting those who have records of corruption during their incumbency.

In a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), co-convenor of Abante Kabatan-onan Alang sa Progresibong Sugbu (AKAP-Sugbu), Jehdley Labita, said his group launched on Tuesday a campaign called the “End Game Movement” that calls for an “end game” for politicians who have plunder and graft charges pending before the Sandiganbayan or the Ombudsman.

Labita likened those candidates to “clowns” whose mandate would be wasted again if ever they get reelected but would be thrown to jail again to answer for their offenses.

“Kapal ng mukha nila na haharap bilang kandidato sa posisyon na alam nila ay may pananagutan sila sa kanilang mga nagagawa (They have such a thick face to run for posts even if they know that someday they will answer for what they have done),” he said.

The practice of allowing officials with records of graft to hold positions is a waste of taxpayers’ money, Labita said.

“Try to imagine, we allowed them to sit (in) the position and receiving the salary from taxpayers’ money while at the same time stay(ing) in jail. That’s nuts. If I were to supervise a government position, I would eradicate those kinds of practice,” he said.

The AKAP-Sugbu called for a press conference last week to endorse the candidacy of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who, they believe, can push for youth-oriented agenda in the next Congress.

Julius Cesar Lañojan, a student of the Cebu Technological University and a co-convenor of AKAP-Sugbu, cited “honesty” as the main criteria in choosing the candidates in the election.

“If a candidate’s person has already been tainted with graft and corruption, what’s the reason for listening to him?” he asked.

The voters should bear in mind the campaigns of President Rodrigo R. Duterte against drugs and corruption that need the cooperation of the people, Lañojan said.

Deme Invento, also a co-convenor of AKAP-Sugbu, said citizens who keep choosing corrupt candidates do not have any right to criticize the government.

“We keep on blaming the government of the lapses in governance, but we keep on repeating the same mistakes of electing wrong leaders. It’s we who are to blame,” Invento said.

“If employers require high standards of qualities in hiring employees, why not require the same standards to people who are seeking for government posts through the electoral process?” he asked.

The youth leaders consider the Senate as the highest deliberative body of the republic, hence the need to be protected from the reign of senators who are facing plunder and corruption charges before either the Sandiganbayan or the Ombudsman.

“How can we, the Filipino youths, be assured of our future if the electorate, as a whole, continues to elect personalities who may have the tendency to hold up again the Philippine society and raid our government coffers for their own vested interest,” Invento said.

“Change is about to come. However, if you seek for change, it has to start with you,” he said. (PNA)