Baguio launches drive against vote-buying

BAGUIO CITY – Representatives from government agencies, civil society groups, religious groups, academe, youth organizations and the candidates in the May elections launched the first-ever multi-sectoral campaign against votebuying in the city.

City Election Officer John Paul Martin, said Baguio and Benguet were chosen as a pilot area for the campaign because of its history as a city that has not experienced election-related violence.

Martin said the overwhelming support of various sectors and the candidates to the anti-vote buying campaign is an indication that the upcoming elections will be honest, orderly, peaceful, inclusive, fair and trustworthy.

“We want to motivate our voters to be vigilant of the activities of the candidates who are aspiring for different elect3ed positions in the upcoming elections. We want that those who were really voted upon by the people are the ones who will be occupying the positions where they were elected,” Martin said.

Part of the campaign will be an intensive education campaign to keep the electorate informed about the important aspects of the elections.

He called on the public to report to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies politicians and their supporters who will resort to vote buying so they can be charged.