VOTE-BUYING?
The International Observers Monitors were quite shocked when they saw for themselves people actually buying votes. In the Philippines, vote-buying is an accepted practice. It might even be legal because no less than the Secretary of Justice announced on national TV that he would give ten thousand pesos (P 10,000) to barangay chairpersons who would deliver a 12-0 senatorial sweep for the administration candidates.
Senator Lacson filed charges against Sec. Gonzales at the Ombudsman but I don’t know if it had been acted upon already.
ABS CBN reported that Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. promised to give One Million pesos to any of his mayors who could deliver a 12-0 vote for the Team Unity slate. Clearly, both the Governor and the Secretary are guilty of vote-buying plus a host of offenses under Civil Service Rules.
If this were a truly democratic country ruled by a Constitution and a set of laws, then both the Secretary and the Governor would already be charged with various offenses and investigated regarding probable ill-gotten wealth.
VOTE-BUYING EVERYWHERE and EVERY TIME
A friend has just told me about his recent election experience in a province just outside Metro Manila. He said that one congressional candidate paid everyone who joined his motorcade. The ones who came with a car or jeep got 1,500 pesos each. A smaller amount was given to tricycle drivers. He also pays his campaign leaders weekly for the duration of the campaign. This candidate won.
Also according to this friend, the incumbent mayor paid everyone who comes to his numerous meetings P200 each. He met thousands of his leaders several times. He must have spent tens of millions of pesos. The mayor won together with all his councilors.
And in one meeting with a senatorial candidate, he and the others who attended the meeting got four thousand pesos each (P 4,000. 00).
As there are many ways to skin a cat, so are there many ways to buy votes.
Once, a relative told me and my siblings how they controlled the elections during the Marcos years. He said that they got copies of the Voters’ List and they would go from one house to another to personally buy the votes. They would do that for 70 % of the voters. A few days before the Election Day proper, they would go to the remaining 30% and would buy their votes, too. Naturally, they were unbeatable.
They were unbeatable as long as their benefactor stayed in Malacanang. When Marcos left, their political fortunes vanished.
JUETENG LORDS, SMUGGLERS, DRUG LORDS AS POLITICIANS
Thanks to the ubiquitous practice of Vote-buying, gambling lords / queens, smugglers, drug lords / queens have become politicians. As governors, congressmen / women, mayors, etc., these criminals have become respectable or “honorable” and could easily launder their money.
But there is a glimmer of hope. Right in the home province of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the people voted against the incumbent governor, Mark Lapid, actor and son of actor-senator Lito Lapid and against alleged jueteng (illegal numbers game) queen Lilia Pineda. Both Lapid and Pineda are close allies of the President.
The victory of Fr. Eddie Panlilio over Lapid and Pineda is a big slap in the face of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This is clear proof that the people, even the President’s own province mates, want her out.
KILLINGS BY POLICEMEN
Five policemen are now in police custody as suspects in the burning of a school in Batangas which killed one teacher / election officer and a poll watcher. The suspects are members of a Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Special Operations Group. The cops are alleged to have links with the town mayor.
Just this incident alone already belies the administration’s claim that the 2007 election was peaceful and orderly. The ghastly crimes were committed not by politicians or their supporters but by the enforcers of the law themselves, the Police.
MANUFACTURED VOTES
According to MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, “there was no actual conduct of elections in many parts of Maguindanao.” This is what is called Manufactured Votes. The votes trumpeted by Team Unity spokesman Tonypet Albano are actually “manufactured”. The people actually did not vote. The votes were done by officials, usually elected officials like barangay chairs or even town mayors.
This is normal practice in many parts of Mindanao.
The Inquirer headline story ‘No voting in Maguindanao’ is a good sign that the Media is getting vigilant and asking the right questions. I hope this trend continues.
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See the ff.:
Ping sues DoJ chief over bounty for barangay officials
Cops linked to Batangas fire that killed 2
