Trapo Fever is NOT just a Symptom; It's a Constitutional Disease

As disheartening as it is to admit in this campaign season, our country’s supply of political showmanship did not disappoint our expectations. Politicians all over the nation continued the tradition of blasting out their fifth jingle as loud and empty as the promises they claim. They littered their speeches with guarantees so outlandish you wonder if they're the second coming of Christ. They threw out campaign t-shirts from their vehicles like fan merchandise, while they brandished a poster-perfect smile for the ages. The gallant pageantry of which makes you wonder about their existence in the first place.

Yet time and time again, they win. Such is the tale of the voluntary inclusion of charlatans in our government. Still, we are haunted by the same sentiment this coming election in May: why are we so in love with a traditional politician?

At a glance, elections are supposed to be a poll of competence and qualifications. In practice however, they became a contest of popularity and financial power. A quick review of top candidates this year unfortunately proves this too well. From media celebrities, to the members and allied cronies of political dynasties, it is hard to ignore them for too long. 

We have a ‘trapo fever’. 

While it might be tempting to blame the voter for their ignorance, a peek at the constitution's fine print reveals the structural problem: it's the system itself that manufactures the 'trapo' onto us. 

For instance, according to Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, the state is mandated to 'prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law'. Yet decades later, no law has ever been passed to prohibit or even actively define political dynasties. With no effective act to pin them down, wealthy political families continue to dominate politics.

Similarly, in Article IX-C, Section 4, the Constitution mandates the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure equal access to media time and space for all candidates. This is further defined in Section 6 of RA 9006 or the 'Fair Election Act'. Yet in the end, money talks; wealthy candidates can afford massive airtime, dominate billboards, and flood online spaces. Meanwhile, underfunded candidates can barely afford an inch of space. The playing field is heavily tilted towards those with resources and political machinery. In the real world, it is financial power that dictates visibility.

And that's not even the largest pitfall.

Perhaps the easiest constitutional loophole is the shockingly subpar qualifications for running. For example, under Art. VI, Sec. 6 of the Constitution, a candidate for the House of Representatives must be (1) A natural-born citizen, (2) At least 25 years old, (3) Able to read and write, (4) A resident of the district for one year, and (5) A registered voter—not a single requirement on competency. Nor a tenure of leadership service rendered, public service track record or even an educational threshold. This theme is frustratingly echoed in the qualifications for other government seats like the president, vice president, and the senators. The constitution itself can't even advocate for good governance and accountability. 

So as it turns out, the 'trapo' is not an accident but an inevitable by-product of an incomplete system. They thrive like a disease because the system inadvertently created an environment that accommodates them well. 

But they don't launch campaigns to the constitution. They don't sing songs of promises to these provisions and articles. Instead they reach for us, the people, because in the end, they are only elected officials if and only if enough people cast their votes for them. 

We are not in love with the traditional politician; they are in love with the votes we are worth. Hence the reason for the campaign jingles, the speeches, the smiles. 

While the conditions that produce them would be nigh-impossible to change today, we can and must acknowledge that the first step to a system that champions competence, integrity and real public service, is to vote for these same ideals. Changing where our votes go might very well be our last remedy against this ‘trapo fever’. 

That remedy, however, is only effective when taken consciously as a collective. If this disease is to be cured then let every vote be a pill for everyone to swallow. Let every pill be attached with the realization that even though this cure isn’t as instant as we had hoped it to be, it at least starts with saying ‘not this time’.

And let every realization send a message to the ‘trapo’ that this May 12, the power to change our future rests not in them. The real power comes from our votes, but if and only if we make it so.