MANILA, (PIA) — Vote buying has become a pervasive and increasingly sophisticated threat to democratic processes in the Philippines, with digital and traditional methods of electoral manipulation proliferating across the country, a leading political analyst warned Monday.
Professor Dr. Froilan Calilung, speaking on the People’s Television “Hatol ng Bayan 2025” program, described vote buying as a “systemic” problem that undermines fair elections, manifesting in multiple forms from direct cash payments to more subtle inducements like health cards and food assistance.
“Vote buying comes in many different forms and sizes,” Calilung said. “It’s not just about cash transactions anymore. Some candidates are now using digital platforms and various forms of material assistance to influence voters.”
The analyst highlighted significant regional differences in electoral practices, noting that rural areas often experience more complex vote-buying schemes involving multiple transactions before and after elections.
“In many provinces, elections are viewed almost like a festival where people see it as an opportunity to earn money,” Calilung explained. “Days before the election, vote-buying activities intensify, with transactions occurring from evening to early morning.”
Calilung identified several contemporary vote-buying strategies, including direct cash payments, digital transaction methods, distribution of health insurance cards, providing rice or other forms of aid, and coordinated efforts by local political leaders, among others.
The practice particularly targets undecided voters and those in economically vulnerable communities, perpetuating what Calilung termed “patronage politics” within the Philippine political system.
The analyst emphasized the critical importance of voter education, fact-checking, and social media literacy to combat these manipulative practices. “It’s crucial that voters have sufficient time to examine candidate platforms and become aware of potential misinformation,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Calilung stressed the need for voters to make independent choices based on candidate qualifications and policy platforms rather than short-term material benefits.
Election experts also continue to call for stronger legal mechanisms to prevent and prosecute vote-buying activities, recognizing them as a fundamental threat to democratic representation. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
