With alleged vote-buying incidents already taking place in various parts of the country as the May 13 midterm elections draws near, Senator Dick Gordon warned voters not to let candidates, who are buying votes, rob them of their future.
Gordon issued the advice in the wake of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) disclosure that vote-buying incidents are increasing as candidates woo voters in the final stretch of the campaign.
“Huwag kayong padadala sa mga pambobola ng mga kandidato. At lalong wag niyong ipagbili ang mga boto niyo, Instant gratification yan, babayaran kayo ng isang libo o dalawang libo pero tatlong taon namang maghihirap ang bayan niyo. Nanakawin ang kinabukasan niyo,” the seasoned legislator said.
“That is instant gratification.”
Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body is expecting that one of the “biggest” incidents of vote buying, which is that some candidates will hold “massive saturation drives dedicated to voting buying,” will be reported a few days before election day.
In Bacoor, Cavite, a group of men were arrested for allegedly distributing envelopes containing P200 each to residents in Barangay Zapote 5 on Saturday at around 6 p.m. The suspects were nabbed after authorities received a text message from an informant that a vote-buying incident was taking place in the area.
Gordon also reminded voters to be discerning in choosing candidates to ensure that they will not have to suffer for the next three years at the hands of abusive leaders. He also stressed the need for people themselves to change.
“You won’t have to suffer for the next three years at the hands of abusive leaders.”
“Huwag basta boto ng boto. Pag-isipan natin ng husto kung sino ang iboboto natin, dahil tayo din ang magiging kawawa pag mali ang naiboto natin. Pag-aralan natin ng husto ang mga kandidato, tingnan ang mga qualifications, track record, integridad, at iba pa. Dapat ang iboto natin, yung mga may malasakit sa bayan at may magagawa, may vision. Huwag yung puro pangako lang, puro pagpapakislap lang,” the veteran lawmaker said.
“I have long been saying, what this country needs is not just a change of men but a change in men. Kahit anong palit natin ng ating mga leaders, kung tayo mismo, hindi natin babaguhin ang ating mga sarili, walang mangyayari sa bayan natin,” the senator said.
