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‘Tis the season of troll?

“If I started worrying about how my constituents are going to react to every move I make, I wouldn’t be able to do my job here. I’ll do what I think is right and explain it later.” – Ed Harris

This piece is a deviation from my usual topics of rural development and agrarian reform concerns. ‘Tis the intensifying political season to which we are caught.

And just like any weather, we adapt by wearing clothes according to temperatures. As the season gets hotter by the day, it may be an understatement the way this Filipino nation of 115 million gears up for the May 12, 2025, midterm elections.

On a more specific note, the province of Negros Occidental and the city of Bacolod respectively are always up and running every political season a run for their money.

A gambit almost everyone takes, most definitely creating a polarizing stance just like any other championship game making most of us filled with thrill and fear. An intramural of ideas and opinions putting many at risk where excitement is an absolute understatement.

For one, Negros is a vote-rich province, and the same can be said for Bacolod, being a highly urbanized city. The increasing political temperature in the city is at a boiling point on different fronts depending where one is coming from. Expectedly, this defines the logic and analysis of many political pundits and kibitzers, arguably identifying which side they belong to.

In Bacolod, the more interesting political battle is for the city’s chief executive between incumbent Congressman Greg Gasataya and incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. This goes with their legions of supporters and loyalists.

POLITICAL FRONTIER AND POLARIZATION

Both men have a very clear and pronounced polarization among their respective supporters and followers in the “proxy war” on different platforms who act as voices of Gasataya and Familiaran, voluntarily or otherwise, but controversially taking the “battles” mainly to the social media considered as a potent and contagious weapon burning hot as a platform of truth, lies and destruction.

Social media as a major platform has become nasty between these two contenders. Congressman Greg Gasataya’s battle cry is the continuity of change started by Mayor Albee Benitez as the head of Team Asenso calling for 16-0 victory including the party list Abang Lingkod. The partylist organization this time is to be represented by undefeated 3rd district Board Member “ManMan” Ko.

Gasataya’s banner slogan is Serbisyong May Puso, which is deeply rooted on hope, sincerity, and commitment inspired by his personal experience coming from humble beginnings. This is exemplified by his humility, commitment and service from the heart is affirmed not only by his supporters, but of many Bacolodnons who have benefited his programs and services. His track record is manifested by his undefeated in his political career and unrelenting commitment to Bacolodnons from being a neophyte Bacolod Councilor, Vice mayor, a short-lived Mayor to a three-termer lawmaker.

For his part, Vice Mayor Familiaran, as expected, does the same strategies trying to outdo the sitting Congressman as his opponent for the top Bacolod’s leadership seat. Familiaran though failed in his inaugural attempt for city councilor but took the same path as Gasataya in his political career, sans as Congressman.

SOC-MED’S PROXY WAR

Both gentlemen are into a social media “war” as the election fever heats up, propelled mainly by their supporters and volunteers. This “war” now cascades down the line, through social media but, significantly without a sense of responsibility and accountability because of an army of trolls. 

They are out ganging up for the opponent’s destruction believing that this creates an advantage for a favored candidate. Many observers opine that socmed trolling was started by the camp of the Vice Mayor Familiaran while the camp of Gasataya focused on his track record and his slogan of “Serbisyong May Puso.” 

For now, we can only gauge the unfolding and intensifying “war” between two parties through fragile soc-med “battles” with the latter mainly anchored track record against the former’s reported promise for a “better” Bacolod that many claim lacks form and substance because it comes without accountability propagated by trolls.

This has started just as yet and resorting to misinformation against an opponent is self-destruction. A cheap trick that many hope comes to a halt because accusations thrown to an opponent without concrete basis and proof are rather useless, a recycled and boring ploy that lacks depth and wisdom. And If I may add, it is without a heart.*

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