Here's a reaction from our companiero Nilo Ahat which is self-explanatory. We are publishing his piece in full here.

"Welcome back Kagawad, and congratulations for making it to the third term. Pardon me for using your column for my reaction to today's (last Sunday) editorial, "if the price is right".

I should say that if the editor wonders what's in Loay and Panglao that deserves the investment in gold, the more he should wonder a thousand times what is there in my small town, Sikatuna, that's worth giving away millions of family contributions just to win a seat in the LGU.

On a per capita basis, Sikatuna with barely 4,000 voters is probably the biggest election spender in the entire province. I have specimens of the "inangayan" for my personal collection, and the "regular rate" was PhP500.00 for Mayor, PhP100.00 for Vice-mayor, and PhP50.00 for Councilor.

So you could just imagine how much money was added to our local circulation by the two (2) mayoralty candidate, two (2) vice-mayoralty candidate, and sixteen (16) candidates for councilor. On top of the regular rate, there was a "special rate" starting Sunday evening which was PhP1,000.00 for the entire slate, thereby bringing a windfall to some voters who were smart enough to use both hands, the left and the right.

Suma total, our two mayoralty candidates spent no less than PhP1.5M each, a gargantuan sum that could never be recovered in salaries for the entire three (3) year term. Understandably, for the Vice-mayor and the kagawads, there will be return of investment (ROI) on the second half of their term, enough to re-capitalize a re-election bid. But whatever it is, I cannot succumb to the idea of spending hard-earned savings as a way to enter public service.

I cannot even empathize their insistence to enter public service because I know their educational handicap is a fact. But what inspires them to enter public service anyway?

Is it because buying the people's vote is easier than going to school and passing eligibility exams? I suppose it is.

So with this caliber of public servants, I doubt if their election to office could improve our immortal classification as 5th class municipality, per DOF Order No. 20-05 issued early this year. I just hope and pray that they will take this as a challenge!"

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