Arao, D. A. (2007, April 25-May 1). Boboto ka ba sa Mayo? Pinoy Weekly, 6 (15), p. 5. This may be retrieved from http://www.pinoyweekly.org/pw6-15/op_ed/ed-6_15_3.htm.

I caught on TV Patrol yesterday the news that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales is ready to give P10,000 to any or all 180 baranggay chairpersons in Iloilo City who can give a 12-0 victory for Team Unity in the senatorial election. According to an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), this constitutes vote-buying.

This development, along with other election-related stories, makes my article this week even more timely and relevant. I was actually prompted to write this when I heard the news last week that an official of the Office of the External Affairs (OEA) wrote a confidential memorandum in October 2006 requesting the President to provide P5.5 million in support of pro-administration party-list groups.

Given all these, one cannot blame the registered voters if they feel resigned to the situation that there will be massive cheating, perhaps even more blatant than the 2004 polls. A journalist-friend who is based in Dubai sent me this feedback via email:

Nabasa ko yung kolum mo tungkol sa elections. First time ko boboto as an OAV (overseas absentee voter). Tiyagain ko siguro pumunta sa Philippine consulate bukas kahit na mahigit isang oras ang biyahe by bus. Pero marami akong nakausap na Pinoy dito. Ayaw nang magparehistro at bumoto. Lokohan lang daw ang eleksiyon. Talagang nadala na noong 2004.

Despite the cheating that happened in the past, it is still important that we exercise our right to vote in May. If we don’t, some unscupulous groups may use our right to ensure the victory of the candidates they’re pushing for.

Please find time to read my column this week. Thanks!