Vote-buying even in quake-hit Bohol towns

VOTING in the special barangay election goes on in precincts under tents outside the quake-damaged Pig-ot Elementary School in Loon town in Bohol. INQSnap this page (not just the logo) to view more photos of the polls. CARMEL LOISE MATUS/INQUIRER VISAYAS

TAGBILARAN CITY—Even in this earthquake-ravaged province, vote-buying has become a “culture.”

Nathalio (not his real name), a registered voter here, said vote-buying still exists in Bohol and that aside from cash, candidates are giving away assorted goods.

“The vote-buying is normal in Bohol. It’s a culture which the people has been used to,” he said.

Nathalio showed the money, which amounted to P280, that he received in exchange for his vote during the special barangay election on Monday.

Apart from the money, Nathalio said he received two packs of noodles and one pack of 3-in-one coffee. His relatives elsewhere in Bohol also received cash, like his brother-in-law in Loboc town who got P300 from candidates in his barangay.

Another voter of Maribojoc town disclosed to the Inquirer that he was among those included in a list. As early as Sunday, he said those on the list had already received P150 to vote for a candidate for barangay captain and an extra P50 for a straight slate.

Vote buying was also noted in Antequera and the other quake-hit towns of Maribojoc and Calape.

A resident of Antequera disclosed that the distribution of the cash and goods was made on Saturday and early Monday by motorcycle-riding men who went house to house.

In Maribojoc and Calape, the voters were given at least two sachets of coffee, laundry soap, lighter, small flashlight and cash ranging from P20 to P150.

Another Antequera resident, who asked not to be named, said her family, which has three voters, got at least P480 cash, plus three detergent bars and a sachet of detergent powder.

In Calape, a candidate for councilor in Barangay Bintig admitted preparing at least P50,000 budget or at least P40 each for more than 1,000 voters in the barangay.

In Barangay Tinibgan, Maribojoc, the candidates for barangay captain gave at least P70 each, while the councilors gave P20 to P40 each.

In Pagnitoan, Maribojoc, a candidate for barangay captain and his seven candidates for councilors on Saturday distributed money of P50 each for the barangay captain and P20 each for councilors during the 40th novena prayer of one of those who died during the Oct. 15 earthquake.

But another candidate for barangay captain reportedly gave P150 to each voter.

In Barangay Candavid, Maribojoc, the camp of a candidate for barangay captain gave P100 for each voter while some candidates for councilors gave P20 each, two sachets of powder laundry soap, two sachets of coffee, a small lighter and a cheap flashlight.

But reelectionist barangay chair Julio Barace, 35, said he did not engage in vote-buying. He accused his opponent of being funded by provincial officials.

Barace is an ally of Mayor Leoncio Evasco, who is not affiliated with Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Rene Relampagos. With a report from Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas