by Kevien P. Cabarrubias, Aileen C. Mendoza, Gina G. Perez,
Enrique D. Tacbad and Virginia B. Bautista
Bishop asks Comelec, watchdog to probe
Pampanga vote-buying
Central Luzon DeskLast updated 01:02am (Mla time) 05/02/2007
Vote-buying rampant; costs from P50 to P1,500
InquirerLast updated 11:04pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
Vote buying reported rampant in Albay, Catanduanes, Quezon
Southern Luzon BureauLast updated 08:38pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
Fears of cheating, vote-buying raised in Visayas
InquirerLast updated 07:47pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
NGO verifies SMS reports on vote-buying
By Lawrence CasirayaINQUIRER.netLast updated 08:33pm (Mla time) 05/15/2007
Ex-mayor linked to vote buying; disqualification sought
Enrique D. Tacbad and Virginia B. Bautista
Bishop asks Comelec, watchdog to probe
Pampanga vote-buying
Central Luzon DeskLast updated 01:02am (Mla time) 05/02/2007
Vote-buying rampant; costs from P50 to P1,500
InquirerLast updated 11:04pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
Vote buying reported rampant in Albay, Catanduanes, Quezon
Southern Luzon BureauLast updated 08:38pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
Fears of cheating, vote-buying raised in Visayas
InquirerLast updated 07:47pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007
NGO verifies SMS reports on vote-buying
By Lawrence CasirayaINQUIRER.netLast updated 08:33pm (Mla time) 05/15/2007
Ex-mayor linked to vote buying; disqualification sought
By Sun.Star Reportorial Team
*****************************************************************
INCIDENTS of vote-buying were reported on every newspaper, on radio stations, on TV networks, and even on the Internet. In fact, even before the May-14 election, the public had already anticipated cheating and vote-buying -- as one online newspaper reported: FEARS OF CHEATING, VOTE-BUYING RAISED in Visayas.
These days, no matter how many reports of vote-buying are published and are circulated nationwide or even worldwide, the nation doesn’t seem to be affected anymore. Yes, many claim that they are alarmed by the incidents of vote-buying but at the end of the day, you’ll ask:
1. WHAT HAPPEN TO CANDIDATES WHO DELIBERATELY EXPLOIT ELECTORATES
BY PAYING THEM IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR VOTES?
Do they get punished? Most of them don’t;
2. WHAT ARE ELECTORATES (WHO SELL THEIR VOTES) THINKING BEFORE,
DURING AND AFTER THE ELECTION?
EVERYBODY ought to know that vote-buying is a form of exploitation. It is unethical. But we would question why it seems to be just a part of the campaign system. It seems that vote-buying is just “natural” during election. In fact, the public seems to anticipate or expect that their votes will be for sale come Election Day. In most cities, some people would even think that a candidate is “cheap” if he doesn’t give money or any item to voters.
Vote-buying may seem to be a simple way to cheat but we see it in a wider context. Vote-buying is both a symptom and a disease. It has to end.
Some electorates allow candidates to manipulate them because they need the money – the reason therefore is poverty. Needless to say, they don’t see the real picture and they don’t know the implication of selling their votes. All they know is that they need to put something on their table. This means that vote-buying is a symptom of poverty. A neighbor of one of our members once said, “Kapag hindi nanalo si Lilia (Pineda), paano na ang kapatid kong nagkukubra ng jueteng?” See? Electorates support a candidate who can give them food, or job, no matter what kind of person the candidate is.
In Castillejos, where one of our classmates won again as Mayor, it was reported that the other party running for the same post once called a “meeting” at one venue where a lot of residents attended. We could surmise what could have happened there. Why else would a candidate gather the people in one area? To campaign? Maybe. But why would the people voluntarily go there if they knew that they would not get anything from the candidate? You bet.
On the other hand, what kind of candidates would exploit uneducated and poor electorates? For sure, those candidates are doomed to become corrupt because they ought to get back the money they have given to the electorates.
So how do we change the system? How can we get rid of the vote-buying incidents? Who should start the change – the ones who sell their votes or the ones who buy the votes?
The choice always depends on the electorates. But as long as the country is poor, change will be unheard of. Who should be educated on the issue of vote-buying – the candidates or the electorates?
We challenge the public to think about this sensitive issue that becomes a mainstream topic due to massive exercise all throughout the country. Can you allow vote-buying to be just an ordinary headline?
*****************************************************************
INCIDENTS of vote-buying were reported on every newspaper, on radio stations, on TV networks, and even on the Internet. In fact, even before the May-14 election, the public had already anticipated cheating and vote-buying -- as one online newspaper reported: FEARS OF CHEATING, VOTE-BUYING RAISED in Visayas.
These days, no matter how many reports of vote-buying are published and are circulated nationwide or even worldwide, the nation doesn’t seem to be affected anymore. Yes, many claim that they are alarmed by the incidents of vote-buying but at the end of the day, you’ll ask:
1. WHAT HAPPEN TO CANDIDATES WHO DELIBERATELY EXPLOIT ELECTORATES
BY PAYING THEM IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR VOTES?
Do they get punished? Most of them don’t;
2. WHAT ARE ELECTORATES (WHO SELL THEIR VOTES) THINKING BEFORE,
DURING AND AFTER THE ELECTION?
EVERYBODY ought to know that vote-buying is a form of exploitation. It is unethical. But we would question why it seems to be just a part of the campaign system. It seems that vote-buying is just “natural” during election. In fact, the public seems to anticipate or expect that their votes will be for sale come Election Day. In most cities, some people would even think that a candidate is “cheap” if he doesn’t give money or any item to voters.
Vote-buying may seem to be a simple way to cheat but we see it in a wider context. Vote-buying is both a symptom and a disease. It has to end.
Some electorates allow candidates to manipulate them because they need the money – the reason therefore is poverty. Needless to say, they don’t see the real picture and they don’t know the implication of selling their votes. All they know is that they need to put something on their table. This means that vote-buying is a symptom of poverty. A neighbor of one of our members once said, “Kapag hindi nanalo si Lilia (Pineda), paano na ang kapatid kong nagkukubra ng jueteng?” See? Electorates support a candidate who can give them food, or job, no matter what kind of person the candidate is.
In Castillejos, where one of our classmates won again as Mayor, it was reported that the other party running for the same post once called a “meeting” at one venue where a lot of residents attended. We could surmise what could have happened there. Why else would a candidate gather the people in one area? To campaign? Maybe. But why would the people voluntarily go there if they knew that they would not get anything from the candidate? You bet.
On the other hand, what kind of candidates would exploit uneducated and poor electorates? For sure, those candidates are doomed to become corrupt because they ought to get back the money they have given to the electorates.
So how do we change the system? How can we get rid of the vote-buying incidents? Who should start the change – the ones who sell their votes or the ones who buy the votes?
The choice always depends on the electorates. But as long as the country is poor, change will be unheard of. Who should be educated on the issue of vote-buying – the candidates or the electorates?
We challenge the public to think about this sensitive issue that becomes a mainstream topic due to massive exercise all throughout the country. Can you allow vote-buying to be just an ordinary headline?
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