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DILG probes alleged massive vote buying ahead of campaign period for village polls

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Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it was investigating reports of massive vote buying ahead of the campaign period for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.The agency has received evidence of alleged vote buying in several provinces in Visayas, including Siquijor, and some cities in Metro Manila, said DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño. “Bentahan kada boto ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 per head. Matindi labanan ngayon. Andiyan pa rin ang narco-politics,” said Diño, the DILG Undersecretary for barangay affairs. (The rate per vote ranges from P1,000 to P3,000. The competition is tough. Narco-politics is also there.) Diño said his office also received information that some local officials were reaching out to election workers, particularly teachers who man precincts on election day.“Nililigawan din ng mga pulitiko ngayon ang mga principal, pinapadalhan ng mga pagkain. Ngayon pati principal at mga teacher tingnan ninyo, pinapatawag &#x27;yan ni congressman at mayor. Video-han n&#x27;yo,” he said.(Politicians are wooing principals, sending them food. See, principals and teachers are being summoned by the congressman and the mayor. Take videos of them.) The DILG will file cases against local officials of any level if there is sufficient evidence of their involvement in vote-buying, Diño said. “Kapag nalaman namin kung saan nanggagaling ang pondo na pinambibili nila ng boto, manggaling man sa mayor, congressman o gobernador, pasensiyahan tayo, magkakahiyaan tayo,” he added. (When we find out the source of funds for this -- whether it be the mayor, congressman or governor -- there will be a reckoning.) Village officials in Metro Manila have an average honorarium of P24,000 monthly and a P50,000 allowance. But in the provinces, village officials only get P3,000 to P5,000 in monthly honorarium. Under election rules, candidates are allowed to spend only P5 per voter. The DILG, however, received reports that higher local officials were funding illegal campaign tactics of some candidates.Charges will be filed against officials proven to have used government property during the campaign period, which starts Friday, and those who will violate the common poster area rule. Candidates are also encouraged to use recyclable materials in their campaign. The DILG also reminded voters of the main duties of a village chief, including the maintenance of peace and order, upkeep of health centers and streets, monitoring of compliance with infrastructure rules, and resolving domestic problems.“Nakabantay kami ngayon. We will see to it DILG will be on top of the situation mula sa barangay hanggang sa governor,” Diño said. (We are keeping watch. We will see to it DILG will be on top of the situation from the barangay to the governor.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it was investigating reports of massive vote buying ahead of the campaign period for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday it was investigating reports of massive vote buying ahead of the campaign period for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

DILG probes alleged massive vote buying ahead of campaign period for village polls

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DILG probes alleged massive vote buying ahead of campaign period for village polls

Ron Gagalac,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 03, 2018 08:06 PM PHT

Read More:

DILG

vote buying

corruption

elections

barangay elections

Sangguniang Kabataan

Martin Diño

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