Offline and online reports of vote buying

MANILA, Philippines – Reports of vote buying from various parts of the country continued to come in on election eve.

Rappler took note of some incidents of vote buying as reported by netizens via social media platforms. 

A citizen reported a case of vote buying in a neighborhood in Calbayog, Samar.

According to the source from Samar: “Every envelope may pangalan ng receiver. House to house ang pagbibigay.”

(Every envelope bears the name of the recipient. The envelopes were distributed from one house to another.)

Pangasinan’s massive vote-buying

The Liberal Party (LP) in Pangasinan denounced the massive vote buying in the province as campaigns hit the homestretch.

“The systematized vote-buying was obviously intended not only to affect the outcome of the electoral contest in the municipal level, but also in provincial and congressional levels,” LP-Pangasinan spokesperson Oscar Lambino said.

According to Lambino, political operators set up “buying stations” where cash ranging from P200 to P500, along with sample ballots, were distributed to voters.

Offers even reached P10,000 for families with at least 4 registered voters.

“These wily operators are so imaginative that they are using every nook and cranny as vote-buying stations. These include sari-sari stores and buses, where the cash are handed out together with the sample ballots,” Lambino explained. 

Netizens turn to social media

Social media has also become a platform for netizens to expose vote buying in their respective areas. As a word of caution, however, social media may also be used for black propaganda by partisan groups.

Tacloban

@comelec #VoteBuying #TaclobanCity twitter.com/iamSuperYsa/st…

— Ysa Rotairo (@iamSuperYsa) May 10, 2013

Ysa Rotairo, supporter of independent mayoral candidate Bem Noel and An Waray partylist, tweeted pictures of money and sample ballots with the caption, “This is what’s happening here in Tacloban City.”

The ballots included the following: Alfred Romualdez (mayoral re-electionist); Cristina Romualdez, Brando Bernadas, Elvie Galapon-Casal, Bom Malate, and Noel Malate (candidates for councilors); Risa Hontiveros, Alan Peter Cayetano (senatoriables) and the partylist Pambansang Bayaning Atleta (PBA).

Rotairo told Rappler that their barangay chairman, a well-known supporter of the Romualdezes, distributed the money. She refused to give the chairman’s name.

Rizal

In San Mateo, Chuck Roxas posted a video in his Facebook with the caption that read, “Naghahakot ng mga tao para bayaran ang kanilang mga boto (They are gathering people to buy votes).”

The video showed a white van with posters of mayoral re-electionist Jose Rafael Diaz and vice mayoral candidate Cristina Diaz.

He said that the people were fetched to go to the Diaz residence to receive P500. They will get an additional amount of P1,500 after they cast their votes. 

Bataan

Paul (nickname) tweeted that if people want to earn money even if they are asleep, they just have to go to Bataan.

According to him, every barangay has an assigned leader who prepares a list of the people who will receive money in exchange for their votes.

He said that the leaders had started to distribute the money Sunday night until Monday, May 13. 

Isabela

 

VOTE BUYING…it’s more fun here in ALICIA Isabela..mga bobong kababayan ko tinitinda naraman ang dangal at bayan. #botomoipatrolmo

— DARENN coloma (@technomaRENN) May 11, 2013

In Alicia, Isabela, Dan (not his real name) sarcastically tweeted that it is more fun in their area because of alleged vote buying.

He told Rappler that the Dys form the most prominent political dynasty in their area. Incumbent Vice Mayor Ian Paul Dy is running for mayor.

Dan said that one of their maids called his mom to inform that she got money from Dy and that they invited other maids to come, too. All of them received P1,500.

According to his cousin who also received the same amount, the Dys have a list of those who will receive money. 

“Kaya po siguro malakas makapagbayad yung Dy kasi easy money lagi pumapasok sa kanila, sa bayad na ‘yun halos bayad lahat ng kapartido ni Dy mula congressman hangang SB (I think the reason why Dy is confident is that easy money always come to them. All of the candidates in his party are paid from congressman to SB),” Dan said.

National candidates

Jacob Ganzon alleged that national bets also engage in vote buying. 

I saw both LP and UNA vote buying. as a whole! #MandarayaLaganapSaPilipinas Eto partido nyo! #MaLaSaPi #MLSP

— Jacob Victor Ganzon (@JacobDiEleventh) May 11, 2013

He told Rappler that on Thursday, May 9, a man in a white polo shirt knocked on their gate asking him about the candidates he would vote for. When he answered that he had no one in his mind, the man offered him P1,000 with the sample ballot of LP.

The incident happened again when another man gave him a pamphlet of UNA. “I was shocked when I saw a P1,000 bill attached to it,” he claimed. He said he refused both offers.

Ahente Probokador’s page also posted a picture of P500 with a sample ballot showing the names of senatoriables Jack Enrile, Bam Aquino, Allan Cayetano, Gringo Honasan, Cynthia Villar, Dick Gordon, Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito.

They said that according to their source from Malabon, target voters are given 3-5 kg of rice and/or P500- P1,000 cash. But their source clarified that the action may only be the initiative of their local politicians.

In addition, University of the Philippines Student Regent Cleve Arguelles accused Anakbayan senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros of vote buying.

@vanvictorino facebook.com/media/set/?set… this is second record incident.

— Cleve Arguelles (@clevearguelles) May 11, 2013

In his tweet, he questioned Hontiveros for advocating change when she resorted to alleged vote buying to win.

When asked about the basis of his tweet, he replied that it was the second recorded incident of Hontiveros buying votes.

He also shared a Facebook link showing an album with pictures of farmers holding green plastic bags and money. The album bore the title: “RISA HONTIVEROS VOTE BUYING SA BIKOL.”

In Camarines Sur, Liberal Party treasurer Abet Bercasio allegedly distributed a plastic containing campaign paraphernalia of Risa Hontiveros and AGRI partylist and an envelop with P3,000 on a farmers’ meeting last May 7.

“They may offer money but voters, especially young voters, are smart. We will not be fooled by gold and goons. Time to elect leaders that will represent politics of change, not money politics,” emphasized Arguelles. – with reports from Rappler Ambasador Bonn Troy Banola, Ladylove Baurile Rappler.com

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