Vote-buying spree out in the open in Pangasinan, Bohol, Eastern Visayas

TOKEN: A resident of Calasiao town in Pangasinan shows off the cash he received after queuing for “pakurong” (money distribution) held by a local candidate recently. Widespread vote-buying takes place in the province during the campaign period despite a law sanctioning violators. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CALASIAO, PANGASINAN—The election in this province has given birth to new terms in the local dialect that are being heard and used only during the campaign period, but all refer to the same thing: vote-buying.

Called either “pakurong,” “waras,” or “bunogan,” vote-buying activities in Pangasinan may take the form of giving away goods or money to households days before the elections.

In the Visayan province of Leyte, vote-buying comes in the form of “badil,” which loosely translates to “bait,” or “cash incentive,” that voters also openly received from candidates in the run-up to Monday’s elections.

Decades back, pakurong was done by candidates’ supporters, usually in the dead of the night, by bringing money to political leaders who would then pass this on to their known allies. Pakurong literally means “to slowly, surreptitiously crawl.”

But pakurong has recently evolved into something that is more brazen than ever as people now openly queue in broad daylight to receive the supposed “tokens” during the bunogan (distribution).

People would be seen showing “stubs” to the person tasked with giving away the money.

Waras, an Ilocano word, is one of the latest election terms to surface during the campaign season. It literally means handing out money to the voters.

It was first used by a mayoralty candidate in the 2019 elections when he told voters during a meeting that if he did not run, his opponent would not have a challenger and “Awan ti waras (There will be no distribution)!”

“Because they already have an opponent, adda waras (money will be distributed ),” he said in one of his campaign rallies.

The mayoral candidate, who won the elections, was also known to have his own waras.

Varying amounts

According to some residents, the money would usually range from P100 to P1,000, but could go up to P3,000 to P5,000 for each voter, depending on the town or city, the intensity of the rivalry and the candidates’ financial capacity.

Others said the money collected by voters in one household would buy new appliances like a television set or a refrigerator.

Many observed that voters who received money from the candidates would usually spend it on or before Election Day, when fast-food restaurants would be visibly filled with customers who were willing to part with their cash.

The vote-buying also takes form in giving away plasticware, such as laundry tubs and water pitchers, or food items like packs of instant noodles, cold cuts, bottles of fish paste and bread. These items come with handbills or campaign materials of the candidates and are left at doorsteps.

The Commission on Elections has been reminding the public that the Omnibus Election Code prohibits vote-buying by candidates and violators could face prison terms of one to six years and disqualification from holding public office.

Despite this, social media is awash with posts from residents who received money or goods from candidates, and would often compare their tokens, an indication that it has become a widespread practice.

Raining money

In Bohol province’s capital Tagbilaran City, it was not unusual for this group of seven neighbors—mostly women—to gather on Thursday morning to discuss an important matter: how much would get they get from candidates.

“Mag-uwan gyud og kuwarta basta panahon sa election. Mao sab ni time nga powerful ang leader (It will always rain with money during elections. This is also the time when the community leader is powerful),” one of the women told the Inquirer.

The amount ranged from as low as P20 to as high as P10,000 per voter, depending on the posts being sought by the local candidates.

Regardless of the area, the modus was usually the same: a ward leader lists down the names of registered voters in the “purok” (subvillage) and delivers the money to each household. The bills are usually stapled with the name of the candidate inside an envelope.

A number of residents in Bohol said they were expecting a second wave after receiving cash from the candidates, many as early as May 1.

Payouts in Bohol were usually done from early morning until noon. It would be late at night in Eastern Visayas.

In the capital city of Tacloban in Leyte, the release of badil started days prior to the elections, ranging from P50 to P100 for those seeking council seats and P1,000 up to P1,300 for mayoral candidates.

In Samar, P5,000 to P14,000 was being dangled for each voter who would vote for a straight slate—from governor down to council members.

In some parts of Leyte, voters could even ask for an “advance” cash out from candidates.

Some of those who received the badil posted it on their social media accounts, covering the names of the candidates but showing the amount they have received.

Sometimes, there is a package deal where a family or entire household could get P3,000 to P20,000, depending on how intense the rivalry is among the candidates in the area.

Not everyone gave cash. One mayoral candidate distributed health cards while another gave out P50 and a claim stub for three kilos of rice.

Sad reality

A Bohol-based psychologist said vote-buying during elections was perceived as normal in Bohol because they were used to it.

“This is a sad reality today that every election they are expecting money,” said Dr. Jerome Magallen.

A candidate for councilor in Northern Samar described vote-buying as part of candidates’ “special operation” days ahead of the election, adding that doing so increased his chances of winning.

“We call it as a special operation and it has been part of our [electoral] system. Engaging these special operations results in high chances of getting elected,” the candidate, who asked not to be identified, said.