Team DailyPedia
The lesser evil. It is a phrase often mentioned during election periods. It could mean different things to different people—it could be the candidate who is least corrupt, the candidate who seems the most knowledgeable, or perhaps the candidate who could wreak the least havoc within the six-year term—but whatever the case, the lesser evil is the choice you are left with and wouldn’t normally choose if you had other options available to you.
This shouldn’t be the case according to Betty Romero, a teacher and NGO (Non-government organization) worker. Last April 24, right before the final installment of the PiliPinas Presidential Debates aired, Romero took to Facebook to explain why she has decided to go for a NOTA (none of the above) vote.
A NOTA vote is different from not voting altogether. It simply means not writing down a name—or rather, not shading in any circles beside the names—of any of the presidential candidates.
NOTA, Romero explained, is “a principled stand. I would rather hold on to the truth I know in my gut, and what is non-negotiable for me, as opposed to putting anyone’s name on the blank because I am afraid someone whom I consider to be worse might win.”
She opened her post by saying that she respects everyone’s right to choose and her goal is not to tell people not to vote, rather, it is her “conviction, and I firmly believe that we must all vote according to the dictates of our conscience.”
When a friend pointed out that leaving the space blank would allow other candidates to win, Romero answered that “whoever wins is the one whom the biggest number of our countrymen will vote for, and I will put my efforts and energies into supporting that person when he/she does right by our country, and calling out her/him when he/she does not. And so, for me, what NOTA is saying is, I will not vote for any of you (presidentiables) and I am making sure I will be actively fighting in the next 6 years (and beyond) to have the government we Filipinos deserve. I will continue to be law-abiding and disciplined BUT I will use my voice and my power to work for a better Philippines, because in the end, I firmly believe the power is in our hands, in the hands of us citizens.”
Netizen Nonoy Ativo seemed to understand the predicament. He replied that “before us are choices offered, whether by human design or by fate, and we are not better off. Same names, different faces… God bless our country and our people Bets. We deserve more than the choices we have now.”
