LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is taking a strong stance against vote-buying to prevent young voters from becoming accustomed to this practice as the poll body intensifies its efforts against election violations.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency, Regional Election Director Maria Juana Valeza addressed the youth in the Bicol region:
“You only have one chance to have the power to make a difference. Your future lies in the election, so don’t sell your vote. Don’t compromise your vote.”
“Lahat tayo pare-parehas, mayaman man o mahirap, iisa lamang ang boto. Dito tayo nagkakapantay-pantay kaya huwag na huwag na ninyong ibenta iyan,” she said.
(We are all the same, rich or poor, we only have one vote. We are equal here, so don’t sell it anymore.)
Valeza added that their decision has implications in the future.
“What will happen to the environment? What will happen in the government if you are going to sell your vote to these individuals who will plunder the funds of the government? Pagtanda niyo, baka nakabaon na kayo sa utang (When you get older, you might be buried in debt).”
The reality is politicians do not care at all for votes that have been sold anyway, she said.
She said the integrity of the youth is at stake if that happens.
“Pag may kailangan na kayo, wala na silang pakialam sa inyo dahil nabili na nila ang boto ninyo. Ang iniisip nila ay bayad naman iyan,” she said.9
(When you need something, they don’t care about you at all because they have already bought your vote. They think it’s paid for.)
“So kung hindi po natin ito aayusin at hindi po iboboto ng matino ng mga kabataan ang ating mga susunod na leaders, saan tayo pupunta?” she asked.
(So if we don’t fix this and the youth don’t vote for our next leaders sensibly, where are we going?)
Any citizen, political party, or accredited citizen group may initiate the complaint against vote-buying and abuse of state resources at the complaint center via [email protected] or through its official Facebook page, Comelec Kontra Bigay.
Valeza emphasized that confidentiality will be guaranteed for witnesses who volunteer to testify.
If government officials or candidates are found guilty, they may be meted out with imprisonment, fines, disqualification, and other administrative penalties. (PIA5)
