CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Several local candidates in various municipalities are believed to be engaging into indirect vote buying by recruiting individuals as campaign coordinators in exchange of a weekly allowance.
This scheme has been employed by the candidates to widen their networks and increase their chances of winning in the 2013 midterm elections.
"Sinabi lang nilang sweldo ang ibinibigay na pera ng pulitiko pero maituturing natin itong isang uri ng pamimili ng boto dahil naitatali nila ang katapatan ng mga tao sa mga nag recruit sa kanila kung saan sila nakakakuha ng allowance," Ramon Gorospe, a political observer and residents here stated.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote-buying is defined as any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party.
During the past elections, vote buying is rampant and done openly by some candidates and their supporters. "Iba pa ito sa tinatawag nilang goodwill money na nanggagaling sa kandidato isang gabi bago mismo ang election," Gorospe
noted.
This came despite the clear wordings of the law governing the conduct of elections stating that vote buying and the like acts are illegal and subject to the imposition of the penalties as as may be prescribed by the code.
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