IF unopposed candidates think they can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while the rest of their fellow candidates are slugging it out against their rivals in the local races, they better think twice before succumbing to self-complacency.
Based on the official records of the Commission on Elections, the number of unopposed candidates for key local elective positions for this year’s midterm elections has increased since 2010.
Out of 80 provinces, there are 12 gubernatorial candidates and 13 vice gubernatorial candidates who are running without contest at all.
Of the 233 districts, there are 25 congressional candidates running unopposed.
For mayoralty race, out of the 143 cities and 1,491 municipalities across the country, there are 15 city mayoral candidates and 187 municipal mayoral candidates who do not have any opponent.
According to Comelec, each of these unopposed candidates needs only a single vote to be proclaimed winner, which is quite an easy feat and does not require them to run an expensive and chaotic, if not at all violent, campaign.
But that is not a reason for them to be complacent as these unopposed local candidates, by the principle of representative democracy, need to secure a clear electoral mandate from majority of people if they want to be effective.
For these unopposed local candidates, they should not give themselves a pat in the back for not having any serious opponent. It does not mean they are indispensable and therefore, can do whatever they want — or do not do anything at all and yet, win the election.
It does not also mean that they enjoy the full support of their constituents as probably, more qualified people than them have grown apathetic towards politics and that the cost of running an election campaign is only for those who have resources.
Instead, these unopposed candidates should be reminded that the Filipino electorate is not helpless that they have to bear with them once they perform poorly for the next three years. There is such electoral recourse, which, last I checked, is called recall election.
If an unopposed candidate wants to carve his name on the hearts of his constituents, he can start focusing on resolving the myriad problems facing his locality than playing “king maker” to his fellow politicians.
