By Mortz C. Ortigoza
Now that the Barangay (Village)
election is few more days to go, I will share the experiences of a Punong
Barangay (Village Chairman) bet we will call in fictitious name Philip
Dipaawat.
In my almost one hour interview with
him, where he asked for anonymity, he divulged the illegitimate ugly sides of
winning the vulnerable and susceptible hearts and minds of the voters in his
and his opponents determination to win the coveted post in Barangay Nababayaran
somewhere in the urban area of Northern Luzon.
In 2007 Barangay Election, Barangay
Nababayaran had 8,000 voters.
ME: How many of you aspired for the position of Kapitan (Spanish term of village chief that was termed as Kapitan del Barrio before)?
DIPAAWAT: Five of us, but the two were spent force. My two tough opponents were a rich matron looking businesswoman and the junkie (narcotics dependent) looking son of the Kapitan.