According to allegations and reports received by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), vote buying in Bacolod City could cost P3,000 to P5,000.
According to Bacolod City Election Officer Atty Revo Sorbito, the Comelec will take immediate action when there is a formal complaint and has solid evidence such as video.
“As of yesterday, we have received allegations that vote buying, vote selling has already reached a very high amount from P3,000 – P5,000, they say. Well, we take these information with a grain of sand. Again, because these are mere allegations,” Sorbito clarified, especially since not a single complainant has come out and is ready to complain formally.
In Negros Occidental, from P2,000 to P6,000,000 will be given based on the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) information.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Fr. Chris Gonzales, head of PPCRV, said it is sad to think that vote buying and vote selling have become a culture. But unfortunately, this is the reality that is happening.
So even if it is against the church’s stance to receive the money, he encourages voters to follow their conscience still and vote for their favorite candidate.
Vote buying in Bacolod City reaches P5,000 – reports to Comelec
“Maririnig mo talaga sa mga kwento ng mga tao na mas malaki ang ibinibigay na pera ngayon. May P2,000 then next week meron na namang P2,000 ulit tapos may another P2,000 kaya naging P6,000 na…. So ganun, palaki nang palaki at sabi rin ng mga balita dyan sa kabila na hahabulin namin yan kung pila ang bigay sa inyo dodoblehin pa namin. So pera-pera talaga,” said Gonzales.
Negros Occidental Provincial Election Officer Atty. Salazar said the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have personnel who have undergone training to handle and assist when a case is filed in connection with vote-buying.
“We actually have a resolution on Kontra Bigay. This is a multi-agency, interagency crash course, and the PNP, the NBI and the AFP were called upon to monitor and make a case build-up in cases na may reklamo for vote buying and vote selling,” said Salazar.
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