Vote buying reported in parts of Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Vote buying has been reported in various parts of Eastern Visayas with voters being offered amounts ranging from P20 to P5,000.

According to lawyer Felicisimo Embalsado, assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), while they have heard about it, they could not take action unless the act was documented.

“They should execute an affidavit and not just post it on social media. It is not enough to disclose that they receive money from candidates,” he said.

Embalsado renewed the appeal to both candidates and voters not to engage in vote-buying or vote-selling, saying it would not do the voters any good.

“They should think of the impact. While they will receive money from these candidates, they will be at the disadvantage in the long run,” he said.

The Comelec official said candidates who engage in vote-buying would try to recover the money that they spent during the elections once elected.

“This will result to corruption. The candidates will try to recover their investments,” Embalsado said.

According to Embalsado, candidates and voters who engage in vote-buying can be both jailed for six years and will face perpetual disqualification from public or elective positions as well as being deprived of their right to vote.

In Tacloban, voters were reportedly being offered from P20 up to P50. The bills were reportedly attached to a piece of paper with the name of candidates on it.

Ruth (not her real name) said she received a total of P190 from some candidates gunning for council seats. “Is it bad to receive money from them? I really don’t know. Somehow the money that we received from the candidates help us buy something for the house,” the 29-year-old woman said.

She said she expects to receive more money until the day of the elections, May 13.

In Basey town, Samar, the amounts being offered to voters reportedly reach as high as P5,000.

“We learned that a certain candidate has promised to give us P5,000 before we cast our votes. That’s why, I promised my neighbor that I will pay her after the elections,” said Anna who asked not to be named. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)