The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP LABAN), guided by its founding members and led by its Chairman Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III, is declaring war against the pervasive culture of vote buying that has plagued the Philippines for far too long. PDP LABAN urges the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to swiftly implement a clear and decisive policy to combat this issue in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
“As original members of a 40-year old political party, the PDP LABAN, we understand the urgency of this matter. It’s now or never. We must put an end to vote buying or risk the irreversible sabotage of democracy,” Pimentel said.
“We cannot claim to have free and fair elections when votes are bought and sold.”
“Vote buying, a clear violation of the Omnibus Election Code, has transformed our elections into mere auctions. We cannot claim to have free and fair elections when votes are bought and sold,” the veteran legislator added.
In the wake of the recently concluded Barangay and SK elections, the party witnessed the distressing prevalence of vote buying, with incumbent and aspiring local government officials implicated in these reprehensible acts.
“The time for tolerance has passed.”
“Prosecuting those involved in vote buying to the fullest extent of the law is imperative. The time for tolerance has passed,” emphasized acting Secretary-General Dr. Manny Jaudian.
“We implore COMELEC to take bold and drastic actions to eradicate this endemic practice that undermines the very essence of democracy,” Jaudian concluded.
