The massive spending that Gen. Magalong has incurred to get elected can only mean he had big financiers. He had conducted medical missions on every group whose members’ votes mattered—that is, they had the numbers. An ordinary medical mission is expensive. Even a lot more expensive if it meant having to make dentures for every senior citizen needing one or two. And what about the eye glasses that were given away. The amount was mind boggling for it appeared that every barangay (the city has 128) was catered to.
Local financiers? Might even include the powers-that-be in the national level.
The main consideration now, however, is how the general will satisfy the high expectations of the city’s populace. They expect a disciplined town. Well, that should not be expensive to deliver. They also expect a gambling free city. Can the general deliver on this one?
We have seen politicians who ran on “no vices” but, later, had to allow gambling after experiencing the daily barrage of solicitations for hospitalization money, tuition fees, bus fare to go home to the province, money to buy a kilo of rice, etc. In such a situation the payola being given out by gambling lords to politicians become so tempting for political survival. But that would be reneging on one’s “discipline” and “vice free” promise to the electorate.
How about transparency. Will the general be transparent in the awarding of public works contracts. Easier said than done. For how can the financiers recoup their investments?
Somehow, the bidding processes would be rigged. The financiers will get the grease money (called SOP) from the contractors, or be the contractors themselves. Either way, the quality of the job they will undertake will not be first class. For, again, how could they recoup their investments?
These are just some spots where compromises would be made. While, we might be being cynical, we are eager, and would be glad, to be shown that we are very wrong.
How about the fear of some that the general is a part of a militarization plan of the country? Such would mean impending abuse of human rights.
To show that this is not true, he has to consistently show his decisions would not have any militarization overtones and that he would respect human rights with due regard to due process in every case or step of governance. Or that he will not be a tool to any plan or movement to abuse the people of their rights through the barrel of the gun.
The best example he could emulate was Lee Kuan Yew of Singapoer who imposed discipline that resulted in inclusive progress for the people. So he stayed in power until he got old or got tired of it.
Otherwise, any abusive leader often result in disaster for himself and for the people.**