MANILA, Philippines—Amid reports of vote-buying in many areas of the country in the run-up to the 2019 midterm elections, one local candidate from the municipality of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite province has risen to social media stardom because of his unorthodox way of campaigning.
In a Facebook post, netizen A M Dimapilis Locaylocay shared she was pleased with the political gimmick of reelectionist councilor Bevan Bencito in trying to woo voters in his town.
Locaylocay said that instead of candies, which are common campaign giveaways alongside T-shirts, Bencito has been giving out his election flyers on which are stapled small plastic packs with seeds for planting.
“Natuwa lang ako kay konsehal Bevan, kasi imbis na candy yung ipamigay nya sa kampanya ang binigay nya ay seeds na pwedeng itanim. Nice one!👏🌱” she wrote.
Locaylocay’s post quickly became an online hit, garnering 32,000 reactions and 23,000 shares as of this writing, as netizens have thrown their praises and admiration for Bencito.
Elsewhere in Cavite, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed charges on Monday against the supporters of former Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla for alleged vote buying and selling.
The respondents were said to have been “caught in the act” of distributing brown envelopes that allegedly contained P200 bills, all amounting to a total of P75,800, following Remulla’s sortie in Bacoor City.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the PNP have urged the public not to take it upon themselves to foil cases of vote buying and selling, but instead report such cases to the police.
The environmental watchdog Ecowaste Coalition has also called on candidates to run on “green” campaigns by utilizing sustainable and ecologically friendly campaign paraphernalia and by sparing the environment from the effects of irresponsible political activities. /ra