Take it or Leave it
BY JUN PRADO
The campaign period for the forthcoming May elections has started. And as the campaign season begins with most bets declaring their bids one after the other; the tight squeeze on businessmen for campaign contributions nationwide will also virtually tighten as the election date draws nearer.
Happily however, there are candidates who need not dance and sing just to be able to attract contributions from some big players in business.
Because they are perceived to be in the winnable bracket, people are the ones eager to give, like in the case of Joseph Estrada when he ran in 1998. Such was his popularity that businessmen were lining up to dole out – so much so that Erap had to turn down many because he didn’t need them anymore.
But more than that not, candidates from the local level up to the local level up to the national positions will be looking to the business sector to bankroll the bulk of their campaign expenses.
Sadly however, there are those who are also said to be taking advantage of their perceived “winnability” by going to potential donors and telling them it would be much better to pay up now because it would be “more expensive” later for those who refuse once the candidates wins.
Naturally of course, the promise of payback figures in the equation, which makes it all the more difficult for the country to ever get rid of patronage politics.
Some of those lucky few who need not depend so much on contributions to mount a formidable campaign, like Manny Villar who has publicly stated that he has already provided for the financial security of his children, which is why he is prepared to spend, and use his resources to be able to serve this country.
Many has no intention to get back his expenses in any form except to be able to help his fellow Filipinos more than he has already done so, which can only be possible if he gets elected to the highest position in the land.
Mar Roxas is also another presidential candidate who has the resources necessary to support his candidacy. Mar was also quoted as saying he would bankroll part of Noynoy’s campaign expenses.
Which should give you and me an idea about the amount of money the Araneta clan is willing to shell out to ensure the winnability of the Liberal Party tandem.
However, the recent decision of the government to impose a five percent tax on election expenses and contributions, plus the requirement for campaign donors to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, is being hit as a ploy to discourage businessmen from contributing to the opposition since they will be identified and could be subjected to all kinds of harassment by the government, vice presidential bet, Jojo Binay pointed out.
Obviously, the administration party will have an undue advantage since it can use all government resources to help its candidates, and at the same time, it can easily “persuade” businessmen to contribute since the administration controls government contracts and the issuance of permits, licenses and other business requirements.
Campaign contributions have been around since the time of Quezon, and it’s inevitable for candidates to solicit funding from businessmen and those who can afford to donate a substantial amount.
There are those who allegedly resort to so-called “grey money” – which comes from illegal activities like kidnappings, bank robberies, illegal gambling, smuggling, or illegal drugs – to bankroll their campaign, but these things happen more on the local, rather than the national level.
What is most important however is for clean, honest and credible elections to take place come May 10.
BY JUN PRADO
The campaign period for the forthcoming May elections has started. And as the campaign season begins with most bets declaring their bids one after the other; the tight squeeze on businessmen for campaign contributions nationwide will also virtually tighten as the election date draws nearer.
Happily however, there are candidates who need not dance and sing just to be able to attract contributions from some big players in business.
Because they are perceived to be in the winnable bracket, people are the ones eager to give, like in the case of Joseph Estrada when he ran in 1998. Such was his popularity that businessmen were lining up to dole out – so much so that Erap had to turn down many because he didn’t need them anymore.
But more than that not, candidates from the local level up to the local level up to the national positions will be looking to the business sector to bankroll the bulk of their campaign expenses.
Sadly however, there are those who are also said to be taking advantage of their perceived “winnability” by going to potential donors and telling them it would be much better to pay up now because it would be “more expensive” later for those who refuse once the candidates wins.
Naturally of course, the promise of payback figures in the equation, which makes it all the more difficult for the country to ever get rid of patronage politics.
Some of those lucky few who need not depend so much on contributions to mount a formidable campaign, like Manny Villar who has publicly stated that he has already provided for the financial security of his children, which is why he is prepared to spend, and use his resources to be able to serve this country.
Many has no intention to get back his expenses in any form except to be able to help his fellow Filipinos more than he has already done so, which can only be possible if he gets elected to the highest position in the land.
Mar Roxas is also another presidential candidate who has the resources necessary to support his candidacy. Mar was also quoted as saying he would bankroll part of Noynoy’s campaign expenses.
Which should give you and me an idea about the amount of money the Araneta clan is willing to shell out to ensure the winnability of the Liberal Party tandem.
However, the recent decision of the government to impose a five percent tax on election expenses and contributions, plus the requirement for campaign donors to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, is being hit as a ploy to discourage businessmen from contributing to the opposition since they will be identified and could be subjected to all kinds of harassment by the government, vice presidential bet, Jojo Binay pointed out.
Obviously, the administration party will have an undue advantage since it can use all government resources to help its candidates, and at the same time, it can easily “persuade” businessmen to contribute since the administration controls government contracts and the issuance of permits, licenses and other business requirements.
Campaign contributions have been around since the time of Quezon, and it’s inevitable for candidates to solicit funding from businessmen and those who can afford to donate a substantial amount.
There are those who allegedly resort to so-called “grey money” – which comes from illegal activities like kidnappings, bank robberies, illegal gambling, smuggling, or illegal drugs – to bankroll their campaign, but these things happen more on the local, rather than the national level.
What is most important however is for clean, honest and credible elections to take place come May 10.
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