Leave the masks at the door

The pledge made by Senator and self-declared presidential aspirant Grace Poe not to “verbally attack” President Aquino is a most welcome break from the garden-variety mudslinging that has characterized campaigns leading to Philippine elections. We, Filipinos, are certainly fed up with the pot calling the kettle black when politicians engage in character assassination.

However, President Aquino, in a highly nuanced statement, correctly pointed out that it’s perfectly okay for Senator Poe to criticize him and his administration because that’s the very essence of democracy and free speech. Here, the distinction was made by PNoy between constructive criticism and senseless and pointless exchanges of ad hominem or below-the-belt statements by candidates.

She being a former American citizen, Poe should take a look at the present public and media vetting of presidential candidates in the United States through lively debates such as the one hosted by CNN. Fox Network, itself not known for finesse, criticized CNN’s questions as baits to egg on the US presidential aspirants like the inimitable (thank heavens!) Donald Trump to brawl. Well, that’s just Fox engaging CNN in a network war similar to ABS-CBN’s and GMA’s ratings combat over Aldub, with Aiza Seguerra as collateral damage.

From where I sit, while civility must always be adhered to, a presidential derby, whether in the US or the Philippines, is not a venue for pleasantries, but must serve as a transparent platform for the people to see and compare the policies and management styles being offered by the candidates.  Okay lang na magsabong-sabong kayo. Walang plastikan at tanggalin ang maskara para makita ng mamamayan kung sino ang karapat-dapat na iboto.   -end-