How To Win in an Election

By Ricky Carandang as told to Erwin Romulo
 
Ricky Carandang is an anchor for the ANC News Channel as well as host for The Big Picture. One of the country’s most respected broadcast journalists, his most recent program, Buy The Numbers, exposes the ways Philippine elections can be won as well as tackling the issues surrounding the planned automation for the 2110 polls.

IF YOU’RE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE…
 
The first thing you need is a lot of money. This is what I’ve heard. Assuming you don’t get the votes, then you have to figure out a way to manufacture them. Some of it might be considered improper or unethical, but not necessarily illegal. Well, some of it is plainly illegal, but most of it is in a sort of grey area.
 
People tell me that local elections actually have a lot more integrity than the national because it’s so closely fought. If you’re a national candidate, you’ll also end up depending on these local guys to bring in the votes and guard them. They basically run the elections—manage the elections in their municipalities on behalf of their candidates, watching each other like a hawk, knowing everybody around. These informal checks and balances on the local level are much more effective. But these guys are gonna be fighting for themselves, you’re secondary if you’re a national candidate. Their concern for you is secondary to their own election. So chances are, they tend not to watch your votes as closely.
 
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