Rampant vote-buying in barangay elections hit
A non-government organization deplored the conduct of the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections citing the persistent reports of violations of the election code by many candidates and their supporters.
The Advocacy for Community Life Improvement led by former Councilor Alex de Venecia expressed his group’s dismay over the reported rampant vote-buying by candidates in both elections.
The former councilor, however, lamented that reports of rampant vote-buying were also true in other areas in the Philippines, not just in Dagupan.
“What will the candidates who won but resorted to vote-buying do and can do after the election?” De Venecia asked.
The nephew of House Speaker Jose de Venecia challenged those who witnessed the alleged vote-buying to come out in the open and point to candidates who resorted to vote-buying.
He said the last barangay and SK elections followed the ways of the local and national elections where there were also rampant vote-buying.
At the same time, De Venecia called on city officials here to adopt hands- off policy in the upcoming Liga ng Barangay as well as SK federation elections.
“Let the elected barangay captains and the SK chairmen freely choose who among them are the most qualified,” he said.
The elections of the Liga ng Barangay president as well as the SK federation president are important because whoever will be elected will sit as members of the city council, just like regularly elected councilors.—LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
