Diño says DILG receiving reports of vote-buying, harassment from all over PHL

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been receiving reports of harassment and vote-buying from all over the country ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14, Undersecretary Martin Diño said Sunday.

Diño, who heads the DILG's barangay affairs division, told Super Radyo dzBB that some of the reports of harassment and vote-buying involve congressmen, governors, mayors, town councilors and incumbent barangay chairmen.

Majority of the reports are coming from Mindanao, Metro Manila and Bicol and Northern Luzon, particularly in Ilocos provinces and Abra.

"Nakikiusap ako sa mga congressman, mayor at saka governor, wag na kayong makialam sa halalang ito. Oras na mavideohan kayo na kayo ay nananakot, nagbo-vote-buying ay may kaukulang parusa ito, perpetual disqualification [from holding public office]," Diño said.

He said his office is already collating and verifying the reports, which will submitted to the Commission on Elections for appropriate legal action and filing of complaints for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

Diño said there are already 8,000 barangay election hotspots identified and this number could still grow by Sunday night due to fresh reports of harassment and election-related violence.

"[Reports are coming from] all over the Philippines, lalo sa Mindanao marami na. Mamaya mag-uusap kami sa Comelec, i-submit ko lahat ang mga report na ito at verify namin at pa-declare namin na hotspot para [maisailalim sa] Comelec control 'pag na-verify ang mga report na ito," he said.

He said that as of Sunday morning, there are already 25 election-related deaths reported.

Aside from harassment and vote-buying, he said they have also been receiving reports of flying voters' recruitment.

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Diño said his office and the entire DILG has been receiving the reports through hotlines.

He said some reports are accompanied by videos of actual vote-buying and harassment.

He said that based on reports he received, some local government officials are offering at least P3,000 for each vote.

"Ang video, ang kanilang cellphone, napakaimportante ngayon niyan," Diño said as he urged the public to help the authorities go after erring local government officials who engage in vote-buying and hire goons to force people into voting for their preferred candidates.

Diño said his personal hotline 0917-5335765 can receive videos and other information about election irregularities of public officials.

"Huwag po kayong boboto ng mga kapitan na bumibili ng boto. Walanghiya ho ang mga 'yan. Babawi iyan, magtitinda ng shabu 'yan, kukunin ang pera ng barangay. Mga magnanakaw 'yan," he said. —ALG, GMA News