Ka Leody: ‘Hindi sapat magpalit ng Pangulo sa Malacañang’

Labor leader Leody de Guzman said Saturday it is not enough to change who leads the country as there is a need to amend the system that only favors the rich and the powerful.

During the Comelec-sponsored presidential debate, De Guzman said the Philippines' election history shows that there has been no change in the society as those elected were the ones who are in power and are rich.

He also said those traditional politicians and those who are members of political clans are the ones often elected in government posts.

"Ang kasaysayan ng halalan sa Pilipinas ay nagpapakita na kung ang maboboto sa eleksyong ito ay galing na naman sa tuktok ng lipunan, mga milyonaryo't bilyonaryo o kaya naman ay suportado ng bilyonaryo, trapo at dinastiya, walang pagbabago," De Guzman said.

[The history of Philippine elections shows that if those getting elected come from the high society, millionaires, billionaires or those supported by billionaires, traditional politicians and political dynasties, there is no change.] 

He said it is not enough that Filipinos would elect a new leader as it is the government's system that needs to be amended as well, specifically the laws and regulations that favor only certain sectors.

"Hindi sapat na magpalit ng mukha ng Pangulo sa Malacañang, ang kinakailangan natin ay baguhin talaga ang sistema ng gobyerno, ang mga batas at patakaran na naglelegalize sa kahirapan ng milyon-milyong mamamayan natin at nagpapayaman sa sektor ng iilan sa tuktok ng ating lipunan," De Guzman said.

[It is not enough to have a change of face in Malacañang. What is needed is a total overhaul in the government system, in all the laws and regulations legalizing poverty among millions of our countrymen and enriching selected sectors of our society.] — RSJ, GMA News