Vote buying politicians will be arrested – CPP

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 30, 2021): Vote buying politicians will be arrested – CPP (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The Communist Party of the Philippines has issued a warning that politicians who will be caught in the act of vote buying will be facing arrest and reprimanded.

Vote-buying is prohibited in the revolutionary areas because it is typically accompanied by intimidation or coercion, disclosed CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena, adding that it furthermore tends to sow disunity and bickering among the people with some receiving more than the others.

Valbuena added that the recovered cash monies will be immediately turned over to the local organs of political power and reported to higher territorial governmental organs, which will be used to augment local funds used for socioeconomic programs for the benefit of the people.

He also advised political parties and politicians to consult with local units of the New People’s Army which are responsible for enforcing the CPP policy and other measures.

The aim of these policies is to ensure that election campaigns are conducted in an orderly manner and not used to sow violence and terror among the people, Valbuena added.

In addition to the prohibition on vote-buying, he also said that political parties and candidates who wish to conduct election campaigns in the revolutionary territories are not allowed to bring firearms or have armed bodyguards, including military and police escorts or their own goons.

This is to prevent them from subjecting people to armed intimidation, as well as avoid armed encounters during their campaign sorties. Valbuena said.

He also advised politicians who wish to donate money to the people to contribute funds to programs of local revolutionary organizations to help boost production, such as buying farm implements, or farm machinery), and maintain public health, including provision of supplies for community clinics.

The election period starts January 9 next year. During this period, an election gun ban will be imposed, and use of security personnel as well as the transfer of civil servants and suspension of elected official are prohibited.

The campaign period for candidates for president, vice president, senators, and party-lists will be from February 8 to May 7.

For local candidates, their campaign period will be from March 25 to May 7.

https://visayandailystar.com/vote-buying-politicians-will-be-arrested-cpp/