The Philippine National Police (PNP), which is the group of people who help keep peace and order in our country, said they have found five cases of vote-buying in different parts of the Philippines. This is happening as we get closer to Election Day on May 12.
At a special meeting with reporters, Colonel Randulf Tuaño, who speaks for the PNP, said that some people were giving away groceries and money to voters. They were also giving out things like TUPAD (a type of government help that gives people short-term work and pay).
But here’s the rule: No one is allowed to give away gifts or money like this 10 days before the election. That’s because it can trick or convince people to vote for a certain candidate, which is against the law.
These vote-buying cases happened in the following places:
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Region I (Ilocos Region)
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Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
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Region V (Bicol Region)
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Region XI (Davao Region)
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Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
In these five cases, the police have filed charges against 18 people who they believe were breaking the rules.
Some of the things they saw that looked like vote-buying were:
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People carrying over ₱500,000 in cash along with campaign flyers and posters
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People giving out groceries or cash close to election day
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Long lines of voters waiting to receive gifts or money from someone
All of these are not allowed because they can unfairly change the minds of voters.
What You Need to Know About May 12 Voting:
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Election Day is Monday, May 12
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Voting places (called polling precincts) will open at 5 a.m.
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From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., senior citizens, pregnant women, and people with disabilities can vote early
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Everyone else can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The police are now keeping a close watch to make sure the elections are fair and peaceful. They want everyone to choose their leaders freely and honestly, without being given money or gifts.
