Ka Leody eyes electoral reform to ban corrupt officials from seeking elective posts

Presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody de Guzman on Monday said he will push for a reform in the political and electoral system to ban corrupt government officials, including those who do not pay taxes, from seeking an elective post.

During a Catholic E-Forum hosted by Radio Veritas, De Guzman explained that while he approves putting corrupt people behind bars, it is not enough when they are still allowed to run for national or local positions.

“Hindi sapat ‘yan, hindi mapipigil, kung patuloy nating palalahukin sa eleksyon ‘yung mga trapo, ‘yung mga kandidato na na-involve na sa pagnakakaw, ‘yung mga dynasty, ay walang mangyayari talaga,” he said.

(The current policies are not enough and will not change anything if we continue to allow the corrupt, those involved in corruption, and those from political dynasties run in the elections.)

He stressed that nothing will also change if the government would continue to allow politicians to run money in the elections and use it to gain capital after getting elected.

Likewise, De Guzman said that those who do not pay taxes should also not be allowed to seek an elective post.

“Dapat ang pinapayagan ay ‘yung mga tapat magbayad ng buwis katulad ng mga manggagawa na hindi pa man natatanggap ang sweldo, ay nakokolekta na ang bayad ng buwis. 100% ang nakukuha,” he said.

(The ones that should be allowed to run are those who are honest in paying taxes, such as workers who have not yet received their salaries, but have had institutions collect 100% of their taxes already.)

Substitution

Moreover, De Guzman said that part of his electoral reform is to prohibit substitution during the election period by changing the law.

“Ginagawang laro eh. Nililito ang mga tao. Parang pinagsasamantalahan ‘yung kahirapan ng mga mamamayan. Ewan ko ba, parang ginagawang laro itong napakahalagang bagay, ‘yung eleksyon.”

(They are making this a game. They are confusing the public. It is like they are making use of the people’s poverty. I don’t know why they are making the elections like a game when it is so important.)

He said that aspirants have enough time to prepare and decide whether or not to run in the elections prior to filing their certificates for candidacy.

Other presidential aspirants such as Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson also supported proposals seeking the removal of substitution rule from the election law. Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, believes this substitution provision is being abused by some politicians.

Article IX, Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code provides that: “If after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, only a person belonging to, and certified by, the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was disqualified.”

West Philippine Sea joint explorations

In the same interview, De Guzman said that if elected president, he would not support the joint explorations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) until China recognizes The Hague ruling which invalidated China's sweeping claims over the waters. 

“Hindi ko susuportahan ‘yan hanggat hindi siya umaamin ng kasalanan niya. Umamin muna na siya na ang teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea ay atin,” he said.

(I will not support that until China admits its fault. They have to first admit that the WPS is our territory.)

During the Presidential Interviews by Jessica Soho, Robredo, Lacson, Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno answered in the affirmative on whether joint exploration in the WPS will be allowed under their governance.

Robredo then said she will use the country’s 2016 Hague court victory to form a coalition of nations against China’s militarization of the WPS.

She was referring to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in July 2016 which junked China's nine-dash claim in the South China Sea. In the same ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China, however, rejected the Philippines’ call to comply with the 2016 arbitration ruling, calling the decision “illegal and invalid.”

De Guzman also reiterated his stance on independent foreign policy, saying that the Philippines should be “unaligned” with rival countries China and United States.

“Dapat tayo ay unaligned. Hindi tayo makikapagkami sa China, huwag tayo makipagkami sa Amerika. Dapat 'yung kasunduan o relasyon na truly independent na kasunduan na beneficial sa kanya at beneficial din sa ating mamamayan,” he added.

(We must be unaligned. We should not side with China nor America. The agreement or relationship must be a truly independent agreement that is beneficial to them and also to our people.) — RSJ, GMA News