THE PHITIPPINE STAR

vote buying an integral part of phl elections

By ALEXIS ROMERO
and EDITH REGALADo
"Kaya mohirap 'yang vote Communist insurgency is employment. was OK for voters to accept
- Rody
lamented that there was vott
buying (That's why vote buy- making the situation-in rural
ing is a complex issue). It cin Rody blamed lare money, criticizing the buying across the countrv.
areas worse, accordine to the Comelec for its "unreafistic"
Chief ExecuLive. " On Saturday, two ia
Prcsideirt Duterte yesterdav take many forrns,.. for as yr
long Dut"rte was blamed ves_
said thatvote buyingis an ,,iri- as the Philippines rules on financial assistance
before the elections. former
remains t5 "Nobody can ijll the land, terday for Lhe reported riras- of candidates to their leaders
tegral part" of elections in the be a poor coultry, for as lonq senator Heherson Alvarez
as improve the land and the com- sive iote buyiny' resortJ-to and supporters.
Philippines, b country that he the feudal svstem exists lal; na
munists are there asking for by candidate; in"the midterm
withdrew his candidacy for
said is beset with povertv and sa (especia.lly in) rural Casilao said it was not only
congressman in the fourth
a feudal system. '
,

' areas ag- money, asking lor food and ev- eiections. Duterte who allegedly promoi-
gravated by the communistsL. erythjng. And lhey.think thcy The president promoted the
district of Isabela, savins he
Duterte claimed that everv- We are becoming poorer ed vote buying, citing other
could not continue pai.tipipat-
and are on the right trad<," he said. illeqal practice in a soeech in of fi cials, inilud"ing Phi'iippine
one has engaged in vote buy- poorer," he added. ing in a "political sharn" due
ing which, according to him, Duterte said the giving of ., The election code prohibits *hi".hlie en.ourig"J l"i"i, t"
the giving, offerin$ or prom- acceptmoney trori politicians.
National Police chief Gen.
to massive vote buying.
comes in manv forms- money does not necessarilv Oscar Albayalde and admin-
"Vote buying is vote killing
"If they are laught, they will mean t-hat one is ising of money or ahything of accoidine Lo Anakpiwis oarw_ isbation candidates as activelv
_ buying votei. value, any office or employ- list Rep. "Ariel Cas'ilao. ' and is as destructive to oui
be prosecuted to the fullest of "You know, when you start encouraging the practice. democracy as illegal drug is
ment, tranchise or grant, or "The Comelec, as ar jnde_
the law Now, the Dractice of to give money, as I iold (the Some officials have said vot- destructive to our physicaf
buying votes has b'een an in- Commission on Elections),
maklng or.oltering to make pendent body, should slam
ers could accept money from wellbeing... (It) is a massivd
tegral part of ari election in the thafs not because
an expenditure or causing buterle,s promotion of acceDt_
politicians but should vote practice all over the country
Philippines.' Yang pagboto I ahat the vote of the fellow.
I'm buvine an expenditure to be madi inq vote_buvine aorr.u,r,jo.
for candidates they were sup- and a public knowledge tolei-
'yan. Walang hindi It'; be: to any person, association, thEguiseo{1,f&e Jb;;;;,;;
porting, since no one would ated by the majority," Alvarez
.flagbibili ng causp I'm giving him money to corporation, entity oi com- Casilao said.
hoto rito. . Ituro mo kung sin o atq see their ballot on the dav of said.
.
go to the precinct, cast his vote munity to induce anyone to
'indi nagbili ng boro (Nobodi and go home. Not all people The poll bodv,s camnaign
the voting. The former senator urged
vote for or against any can- againsL vote bu vins ,,had beE.,
It is the voter who feeds the people to "renounce i! de-
ras not bought votes. Tell rne have money. Or you
a'ho has nol bought votes),,, to your leaders who
send food didate or withhold his vote d"emolished insti'nrly by a
ballot into the vote-countins nounce it and withdraw our
are here rn the eteclron-. presidential speech,,, the c-on_
machine, thev said.
he President told reporters sacrificing and waiting for the tolerance to it, or our democ-
An oitense is also commit- gressman added. While yesierday's elections rary will wither away."
rtter casting his vote at the food to eat so thev ian lasr "
)aniel R. Aguinaldo National until the ]ast vote is'counted.,, tedi{apersonorgroupsolicits ln a campaisn soeech in were taking place, Albayalde,
{igh School in Davao City. or receives any expenditure Davao Citv ovEr tlie week_ based on reports he was rg- sayAlvarez, howevei aia.not
he said. or promise of any office or end, the fresident said it ceiving from potice statioqls, who was buying vot6s in
his distdct. - With Jess Diaz

" 9lg'o-gt"