'Bets now more creative in vote-buying'

MANILA, Philippines - Though Metro Manila police said yesterday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were generally peaceful and there was a large voter turnout, a poll watchdog said some of the candidates devised ingenious ways to buy votes.

“They (those engaged in vote-buying) have become more creative. Before it was just money, now they give other items such as groceries and distilled water,” said Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta de Villa.

She said the label on a bottle of distilled water bears an image of the candidate, and it is a “subtle” reminder to vote for this candidate.

There were also reports that some candidates were distributing rice, health cards and scholarship grants before and during election day.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila said yesterday that the police is verifying reports that a candidate for barangay chairman allegedly handed out money to senior citizens in Tondo. 

Comelec Manila District 1 head Jovencio Balanquit said he has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to check the report.

“It was a good thing that this was exposed” so that the authorities would be alerted, he said.

De Villa said it was possible that some local government officials, such as the mayor, might be extending assistance to barangay and SK candidates since they would be utilizing them during the 2013 local elections. 

Balanquit said that in one elementary school in Manila’s District 3, one of the watchers padlocked the ballot box and the authorities had to force it open.

Large turnout

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), based in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, said yesterday they monitored a large turnout of voters in the Muslim communities of Signal Village, Maharlika Village, Upper and Western Bicutan.

NCRPO spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said that as of 2 p.m. yesterday, the areas remained peaceful.

The NCRPO deployed 17 senior police officers to assist the local chiefs of police in securing the electoral exercise.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome and PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo made rounds of polling centers in Metro Manila to ensure the security and safety of all voters, candidates, their supporters, volunteers, and public servants managing the elections.

Bartolome said voters were lined up at Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, Quezon City as early as 6 a.m.

Bacalzo and Bartolome visited the polling precincts in Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan City at 9:40 a.m. By mid-day, the NCRPO chief visited the police personnel detailed at the Commonwealth Elementary School together with Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele.

Bartolome expressed his satisfaction in the performance of the police personnel manning the Joint Security Assistance Desks.