Vote buyers getting creative, say watchdogs

Operators intending to cheat have devised creative ways of buying votes in the upcoming May 9 elections according to election watchdogs.

"Marami ngayong pamamaraan ng enticement or even vote buying, not necessarily cash. So it has become sophisticated also," said National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) secretary general Eric Alvia in a report of GMA News' Jun Veneracion for "24 Oras" on Wednesday.

The new tricks include giving away groceries, gift certificates and cellphone load.  

"Mobile cash, mobile money. These are features that are used in many parts of the world kasi walang bangko nga. So ginagamit to ease the transaction, transfer of money. So sa panahon ng halalan nakita na pwedeng sakyan," said NAMFREL member Telebert Laoc.

Unscrupulous politicians are also preparing on how to take advantage of the Supreme Court's decision that directed the Commission on Elections to issue receipts to voters after their ballots.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta De Villa says they have received reports that some political operators are printing fake receipts.

"Yung peke na vote receipt hindi naman makikita yun nakalagay sa kamay ng botante at yun ang ihuhulog imbes na yung tunay na resibo," she said.

De Villa said the real receipt will then be shown to the political operator as proof for vote selling.

"Magiging driver ito ng vote buying and vote selling. Proof of purchase," she said. —Virgil Lopez/JST, GMA News