7 nabbed for alleged vote-buying in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Seven persons were arrested in Iloilo amid reports of widespread vote-buying and selling in the province.

On Saturday, police arrested four persons in Barangay Poblacion in Ajuy town, about 89 kilometers northeast of Iloilo City.

They were allegedly buying votes and were caught with two sample ballots, an envelope containing P1,000 in cash, and a list of voters of the village, according to a report of the Western Visayas Police Regional Office.

Three persons were also arrested in Barangay Ilaya Poblacion in Barotac Nuevo town on Friday for alleged vote selling.

Recovered from those arrested were envelopes containing cash totaling P3,100 and sample ballots.

Those arrested will be charged for violating the Omnibus Election Code.

Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director, said reports of vote-buying and selling have come from “almost all municipalities of Iloilo.”

Iloilo has 42 towns and a city.

Bulalacao said there had been numerous reports and allegations on vote-buying and selling, but the police can only act on those caught in the act or those supported by statements from witnesses or those offered for payment in whatever form in exchange for their vote.

Since Friday evening, many voters have been staying in their houses in municipalities in Iloilo waiting for “visitors” — those bringing money from candidates.

“They want to be home because they do not want to miss the coordinator of the candidate and the money for voters in the household,” said Fr. Marco Sulayao, coordinator on Panay Island of the poll watchdog Kontra Daya.

Residents have also posted photos in social media of voters trooping to houses where the alleged payoffs were being done.

Sulayao said vote-buying has worsened compared to previous elections with candidates buying votes from P500 to P1,000 each.

Vote-buying has also been reported in various parts of Eastern Visayas with the amount ranging from P20 to P5,000.

Lawyer Felicisimo Embalsado, assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said that while they had heard about it, they could not take action unless the act had been documented.

“They should execute an affidavit and not just post tit 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 will not do the electorate 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 will try to recover the money that they spent during the elections once they get elected.

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

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

Amid reports of massive vote-buying in several parts in Eastern Visayas, Palo Archbishop John Du appealed to candidates not to buy votes and for voters to not sell their votes.

Archbishop John Du said the electoral process is sacred and therefore should be respected by all.

“I pray that the elections will be honest and clean,” he said.

“People should keep the sacredness of their votes because that is their privilege and right,” he added.

Vote-buying has been reported in various parts of Eastern Visayas with the amount ranging from P20 to P5,000.

In Tacloban City, policemen aboard patrol cars were roaming around the streets to remind voters not to accept money from candidates or they would face imprisonment of up to six years if convicted in court.

The local police, however, have yet to find a single voter who had committed vote-buying.

As in other areas, vote-buying has also been rampant in Bohol.

Referred to as “inangayan” (sharing) and “uwan-uwan” (showers) in the local language, vote-buying was observed in the hotly contested mayoral contests in Panglao, Loboc, Trinidad, Antequera, Tubigon and Loay.

In Loboc town, the rates rangeD from P20 to P5,000.

Vir, not his real name, received P10,000 on Saturday. He received P5,070 for the whole slate of one camp and P4,070 for the whole slate of another camp.

He also got an additional P20 and P50 from individual candidates for councilor.

Vir said he personally got the money from the houses of the mayoral candidates.

“No screening needed. Everyone can receive their share,” he told the INQUIRER.

In Cebu City, some 50 members of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity held a penitentiary walk for the conduct of peaceful elections on Monday, May 13.

Dr. Rene Bullecer, the organizer of the event, hoped that people will vote with prayerful discernment.

“We cannot offer anything more than prayer. May we see the importance of the May 13 elections and we should take seriously our choices,” said Bullecer.

“The important things to remember in choosing the candidates is asking whether they adhere to the teachings of Christ as well as the value of life and public service,” he added.

While holding candles, the group prayed the rosary while marching from the Magellan’s Cross towards the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. —With reports from Dale Israel

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)