A snap election is not the key to restoring public trust in the government – but the certainty of punishment is, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson pointed out that an election, whether snap or regular, may even fuel more corruption as candidates may try to buy votes, in many cases using taxpayers’ money.
“Election, snap or regular, is not the solution. In fact, election campaigns actually add to more corruption – of the electorate by the candidates,” he said after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano floated the idea of a snap election of the President, Vice President, and members of the Senate and the House to restore trust in government.
In Filipino: Lacson: Katiyakan ng Parusa, Hindi Snap Elections, ang Susì sa Pagbabalik ng Tiwala ng Publiko sa Gobyerno
Instead, he said the certainty of punishment, especially the swiftness of conviction, would be a stronger deterrent to corruption.
Lacson has repeatedly pushed for the certainty of punishment, meaning the charging, prosecution, conviction and imprisonment of those involved in wrongdoing, to end the corruption behind anomalous projects.
“For a change, how about certainty of punishment of corrupt politicians? The higher the better,” he said.
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Lacson: Katiyakan ng Parusa, Hindi Snap Elections, ang Susì sa Pagbabalik ng Tiwala ng Publiko sa Gobyerno
Katiyakan ng parusa, at hindi snap election, ang susì sa pagpapanumbalik ng tiwala ng publiko sa gobyerno, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson na ang halalan, maging snap man o regular, ay maaari pang magdulot ng mas malalang korapsyon dahil sa pagbili ng boto ng ilang kandidato — kadalasan gamit ang pondo ng bayan.
“Election, snap or regular, is not the solution. In fact, election campaigns actually add to more corruption – of the electorate by the candidates,” ani Lacson, matapos imungkahi ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano na magkaroon ng snap election para sa Pangulo, Pangalawang Pangulo, Senado at Kamara upang maibalik ang tiwala ng publiko sa pamahalaan.
Sa halip, ani Lacson, mas mabisang paraan ang katiyakan ng parusa – lalo na ang bilis ng paghatol – upang takutin at mapigil ang mga tiwaling opisyal.
Matagal nang isinusulong ni Lacson ang konsepto ng certainty of punishment — o ang tiyak na pagsasampa ng kaso, paglilitis, pagkakakulong, at pagpaparusa sa mga sangkot sa katiwalian — bilang solusyon sa korapsyon sa mga maanomalyang proyekto.
“For a change, how about certainty of punishment of corrupt politicians? The higher, the better,” ani Lacson.
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A call for an snap election is clear in favor of the personal interest of Peter Cayetano, because I believe that if granted they will parade Sarah Duterte just to acquit the pending accountability. And pending impeachment trial.