Research Paper THE ANTONINUS J O U R N A L SOCIAL SCIENCES Published by The Graduate School, UST Manila The Body as a Currency: The Case of Political Combatants in the Province of Aklan, Philippines Frederick I. Rey 1* ABSTRACT Political combatants participate in an electoral process by rendering armed services to politicians. By making their bodies as a medium of exchange, they obtain symbolic or material rewards. This article argues that political organizations in the province of Aklan recognize the various roles of combatants in the actual conduct of democratic contests. Furthermore, the triumph and glory of political organizations reside in the skillful maneuvering of the instruments of power and its constant attempt to in- crease its monopoly in the use of force. This vicious landscape may appear despicable and disgusting but one must remember that the world of politics is a world of countless paradoxes. Through creative balancing among different actors in a political system, the entire structure attains its symmetry. These pre-modern gladiators invest in a postmodern political -economic transaction that locates them at the forefront of Aklan politics. Keywords political combatants, political gangsterism, power, political violence, warlordism INTRODUCTION People engage in political gymnastics for various rea- sons. Some invest time, other invest resources, while others invest their bodies. This portion of the research focuses on the last form of investment—investing in the political game using the body, particularly its capacity to inflict force. These are political combatants who may be voluntary or outsourced units willing to render tem- porary or permanent armed services as part of the politi- cal system. This inquiry explores the roles and functions of political combatants in the Province of Aklan and seeks to contribute to the understanding of Philippine rural politics. This article foregrounds the sinister character of polit- ical exercise that every state is founded on force. Weber in Matthews (1978) laments that “force is certainly not the normal or the only means of the state—nobody says that—but force is a means specific to the state” (p. 1). Since there exists the recognition and the appreciation of force as part of political machinery, it can be said that certain parts of this machinery has the potential to engage in hostile acts once perceived necessary. If the state then is founded on violence, the individual sudden- ly confronts the bold reality of the presence of combat- ants in the actual conduct of the democratic contests. In some instances, these attacks may be orchestrated and supervised by the candidate or in some cases arranged by actors or allies within the political organization with- out the knowledge of the candidate. All political organizations are haunted by the disturb- ing fact that they must maintain a powerful network of armed personnel that functions in two ways: first, to provide physical security from real threats, and second, to provide psychological invulnerability. It is only when psychological and physical threats are confronted that the machine can fully operate. Weber in Gerth and Mills (1946) elaborates on the hard truth of politics. He argues that “the man who is concerned with the welfare of his soul and the salvation of the souls of others does not seek these aims along the path of politics. Politics has quite different goals, which can only be achieved by force” (p. 223). As a function- ing part of a whole, combatants provide the necessary energy in the achievement of the organization’s general objective, which is to manipulate the relation of men dominating men (Weber as cited in Matthews, 1978). Politics having no business in the affairs of the spirit, seeks to advance the intentions of the political being through various forms of antagonism. Weber warns fu- ture politicians that “this world is ruled by demons, and that he who meddles with politics, who in other words makes use of the instrument of power and violence, concludes a pact with the infernal powers… it is not the case that from good only good, from bad only bad can come, but that often the opposite holds true. Anyone who cannot see that is indeed a political child” (as cited Submitted January 21, 2017, Accepted July 26, 2017 *Corresponding author: burnsrey@yahoo.com 1 The Graduate School, Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, Department of Sociology, Political Science Department, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, 1500