Senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu (standing with microphone), president of Buklurang Manggagawang Pilipino (File photo from the Facebook page of BMP)
MANILA, Philippines — Traditional politicians, derisively labeled locally as “trapos,” succeed because of the desperation of the people, senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu said Tuesday during the proclamation rally of the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) at the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani in Quezon City.
“They say our politics is bipolar because we are so angry at trapos but we still vote for trapos. Bipolar,” Espiritu said in Filipino.
“Why is everyone angry at trapos? Because we know that trapos are the cause of poverty and they do not give solutions to poverty. You all know that,” he added.
Espiritu then mentioned Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Cynthia Villar.
“Can the workers depend on capitalists like Sherwin Gatchalian to end contractualization, to increase salary? Is that possible?” Espiritu said.
“You who have no land and no house, you talk Cynthia Villar and her son who are doing good in surveys, and you ask if you can get land. That cannot be. They are grabbing your land,” he added, referring to the senatorial candidate Mark Villar.
“How did it come to this? Because they put us in a situation wherein we are so desperate because of poverty. We cannot live even if we work to death from morning to evening. We cannot live,” Espiritu went on.
“That’s how trapos are. They succeed from our desperation and con us. They sway us with the Tallano gold myth and Bongbong Marcos will pay for the country’s debts. That’s a folk tale. Who believes that?” he added.
He was referring to a story circulating the Marcos family would share the gold it owns with supporters.
Espiritu said that the people needed confidence, and that’s where PLM candidates could help.
“All we need is self-confidence and that is the importance of the candidacy of Ka Leody [de Guzman], Walden [Bello], David D’ Angelo, Roy Cabonegro, Luke Espiritu, and the PLM Partylist,” he said.
The campaign period for the May 9 elections started on Tuesday, Feb. 8 for national candidates, and it will start on March 25 for local candidates.
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