Point And Shoot: Massive vote buying in Mountain Province

By ARTEMIO A. DUMLAO

I am reprinting in this column a statement of Fr. John Marion Buyagawan, PPCRV Provincial Coordinator of Mountain Province, so the people may judge for themselves. It is entitled “A Statement Denouncing Massive Vote buying in Mountain Province.” The full text reads:

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting-IBP Legal Network for Truthful Elections (PPCRV-LENTE) denounces and condemns the massive vote buying in various forms, and other election irregularities perpetrated by candidates and their political henchmen in practically all barangays in the Mountain Province.

Earlier on the campaign, cellular phone cards bearing the initial of a congressional candidate, were distributed for free to the youth campaigners. In the barrios, ato people and clans were encouraged to have reunions and were given money for pigs, rice, ingredients, and drinks.

Barangay officials and campaign leaders were given at least THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30,000). Some two or three days before election day on May 14, 2007 these officials or campaign leaders were given FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000) or higher, depending upon the number of voting precincts covered, for distribution to the voters, in various amounts: P200, P500, P1,000. Each watcher per precinct was also given P1,500, plus P500 for food; P500 each for assistors, and P200 for leaders. In some barangays, most if not all the voters were appointed leaders, assistors or watchers.

Initial reports also revealed that on election day in at least two barangays in the province, voters were herded into “vote buying stations” where they were given drinks and money, and were urged to vote for an incumbent high government official.

In Paracelis, a special election may be conducted due to ballot box snatching. It was already learned that voting in about 50% in the municipality was supervised by board of election inspectors whose composition was questionable. In Sagada, a disqualification case was filed against a mayoralty candidate on charge of vote buying, while in Betwagan, Sadanga, ballot boxes were snatched and burned.

Now that elections are over, there is a big job to do. Let’s work together in our quest for peaceful, clean and honest elections in our province. We urge democracy-loving individuals who personally witnessed those anomalies to come out in the open and execute affidavits in order that appropriate cases maybe filed against perpetrators of election fraud.

We, therefore, strongly encourage everyone to come forward and support us in this worthy endeavor. Please submit your comments, inputs and reactions to: PPCRV office, Teng-ab, Bontoc, Mountain Province .

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Any comments from our readers, especially those who are being referred to by this statement, or those who want to add testimonies or retorts, are most welcome. Please email me at aadumlao@yahoo.com. #