CEBU, Philippines — The usual massive vote buying, harassment, political intervention, and hamleting of voters in some remote barangays have dominated the complaints of election violations in some areas of Eastern Visayas region, and Siquijor province in Central Visayas.
The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, headed by Major General Raul Farnacio, and some field commanders of the police, specifically Senior Superintendent Nicholas Torre, provincial director of the Samar Police Provincial Office, however declared the barangay and SK elections in Region 8, as “generally peaceful,” despite tensions in a few areas.
In Tomas Oppus town of Southern Leyte, some sectors alleged that more than 10,000 voters were “harassed by some supporters of Mayor Aquilino Escano,” and this accusation is now being investigated although this was denied by the mayor’s camp.
Massive voting has been reported also in this town, where voters allegedly received between P500 and P2,000 each to vote for particular candidates.
In Gandara town of Samar, an employee of the Municipal Veterinary Office whose wife is running for barangay chairperson, admitted of vote buying from P2,000 to P3,000. "We are doing this because we won’t win if we do not give money to the voters," he told The Freeman.
Massive vote buying has been reported in almost all barangays of Siquijor province since Saturday, and that even provincial and municipal officials allegedly participating in the campaign and in the distribution of “monetary inducement for votes.”
A concerned citizen, whose identity was kept under wraps, said that Siquijor is “really doing this as part of its long-time political tradition,” with vote buying already a rooted practice.
Siquijor provincial and municipal employees have been mandated to campaign for certain candidates, he said, and that some top government officials in the province even bankrolled the financial requirements of their candidates.
One mayor in Siquijor reportedly used the Municipal Hall as the distribution base for the funds of the candidates, and utilized the police as “perimeter guards and lookout,” with others used as bodyguards during barangay sorties and in the distribution of money.
Lazi town Mayor James Monte, however said his town followed the order of President Rodrigo Duterte and the DILG “not to buy votes.” He said both parties from the administration and the opposition toed the line, and that “rampant vote buying” did not happen in his town.
The Siquijor Police Provincial Office yesterday started conducting a spot check on of the alleged money distribution in the towns of San Juan, Maria, Enrique Villanueva, Larena, and the capital town of Siquijor, which has been the most popular area for vote buying in the province. Local officials however issued no statements on this matter when sought for comments by The Freeman.
In Calbayog City of Samar — which has 11 of 157 barangays declared as immediate areas of concern — harassments by unidentified armed men against candidates and their supporters have been the main problem.
“Six candidates running for barangay chair and councilmen are in Calbayog and they cannot vote and do their campaign out of fear,” claimed Mayor Ronald Aquino, whose group had a stand-off against those of Samar Vice Governor Jimboy Tan, a matter that is being investigated by the provincial police. (FREEMAN)