With the midterm polls less than 10 days away, Malacañang has appealed to Filipino voters and government agencies to be alert and vigilant in ensuring peaceful, clean and honest elections.
The Palace on Friday told politicians seeking elective posts on May 13 to stop the illegal practice of vote-buying in order to secure a victory.
‘Let people decide’
“We’ll have to let the people decide. That’s the only time that everyone as a voter has the same power with the rest of the voters in the Philippines, whether they are rich or powerful. The vote of Filipinos is only one,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
He added: “We hope that all the agencies of the government, as well as the voters themselves and our countrymen will be alert and will contribute to the peaceful and clean and honest voting in the polls.”
Panelo made the remarks on Friday as the campaign period for the May 13 midterm elections entered the homestretch and candidates scrambled to make the last few days count.
Panelo also told local politicians to stop engaging in vote-buying among less educated Filipino voters.
“They should stop with that. But the problem with our country is that many of our voters lack the educational requirements. When a voter is unschooled and poor, they’re open to many factors to change their votes,” he said.
He explained that poor, uneducated voters are more open to intimidation, threats and accepting money, as well as accepting less qualified candidates.
Different standards
“People like us who are educated, we won’t vote for someone who is not as good, or is better than us. But if you lack the tools, educational tools, your standards are different,” Panelo said.
He also expressed optimism that all Filipinos will soon enjoy free education to help them make the right decisions in casting their ballot.
“Hopefully, our countrymen will have education, all of us,” Panelo added.