Vote buying in Butuan now up to P5k per voter

By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent

BUTUAN City — Vote buying and selling is an old and illegal practice during elections but has since been taken as acceptable “norms,” here in the mining capital of eastern Mindanao.

In mineral rich provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat islands and Surigao del Sur vote selling and buying, reportedly, have reached from P2,000 up to P3,000 then to P5,000. While in Agusan del Norte where intense political rivalries are at play vote buying and selling are pegged at P2,000 to P3,000 per voter.

Here in the city, it has reached from P3,000 up to P5,000 per voter however on condition that voter must vote straight for a local political line-up of certain political party or group depending on situation where parties offer more or not.

In an earlier press conference called by Agusan del Norte provincial and Butuan City Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices through the provincial and city election officers Lawyers Ernie Palanan and Samuel Rollo respectively, admitted they are helpless with regard to stopping vote buying and selling unless there is full cooperation from the public.

Although they discouraged vote buying saying that it is punishable by law if caught, Rollo urged complaining voters to issue complaint affidavits under oath.

The two Comelec officials admitted that their offices cannot guarantee in providing witness protection, providing lawyers, and protection of voters and immediate families to voters or citizens turned whistle blowers

Results of the surveys sponsored and funded by a premiere Roman Catholic University in the city showed Butuan voters are expecting money, to accept money from candidates or political parties in the coming May 9 elections.

At the press conference here, survey officials and officials from Fr. Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Policy Center chaired by the Dean of the College of Law Atty. Josefe Sorera-Ty, who is  also a Certified Public Accountant said the phase two of the two-phased opinion polls was conducted March 28-April 3, 2016 in 86 urban and rural barangays with 1,952 respondents representing 1% of the total registered voters of Butuan City.

Of the 1,952 respondents, when asked if they will or to accept money from candidates or political parties in time for May 9 elections, 77.55% Butuanon voters answered yes, while 11.02% answered no and 11.02% were undecided.