Multi-agency ‘no-vote-buying, 

selling drive’ rolls off in Bohol 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 1 (PIA)— The head of the Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bishop Alberto Uy topbills the multi-agency’s initiative to drive home the nail to permanently sink in the message of change with the church’s univocal stand against vote-buying and vote selling. 

The bishop’s message replayed on loop over a public address system reverberated across Bohol’s main highway as an estimated 300 participants of the campaign caravan in chartered buses, tourist vans and government vehicles rolled off from the Plaza Rizal after a short send-off program. 

Organized by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the Diocese of Tagbilaran and Talibon, and supported by the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, , Commission on Elections, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government and their allied offices as well as civil society organizations, the No to vote buying soon morphed into a broader campaign. 

According to NICA Regional Director Susan Villora, at the start of the conceptualization stage, the plan was to conduct a region-wide campaign against vote buying but Bohol bishop Uy accordingly suggested to include vote selling to educate the voters about the evils of selling their votes to candidates. 

In his message to Boholanos carried throughout the entire caravan, Bishop Uy said “Kon ang pili-ay magpabilin nga kwartahay, daghang mapili nga walay angay.” (If vote buying remains a practice in elections, many misfits get elected.) 

He said, if the same practice continues, people can’t push winning candidates to work, because in the first place, he has spent much and would want to get back his investments. 

On this, the bishop said the poor do not stand a chance at winning and those with the neat intent to serve are discouraged. 

“Sa politika, daghan ta’g labanan, pero sa pagkontra sa dautan, dinhi kita mag-uban,” (We may support different candidates, but against evil actions, we need to be one, the softspoken bishop intoned. 

Also calling ro the same are Bohol police chief Police Colonel Julius Cesar Gornez and Regional Assistant Election Officer Atty. Veronico Petalcorin, who pressed that penaly for vote buying and selling an go from one to six years imprisonment. 

DILG Regional Director Leocadio Trovela said elections are equalizers, and the value of each vote is the same for the rich and poor, and of all political rights, the right to vote tops. 

“Let us take care of our vote, let’s be vigilant, the government under the President and our Secretary Año believe that in unity, we can help COMELEC in elevating the level of more honest orderly and peaceful elections,” Trovela added. 

NICA chief Villora bared that the multi government offices campaign, urges, that today, we make the no to vote buying and no to vote selling, this is our government advocacy. 

Rev Fr Adonis Jubac, in his send off prayer, invoked for the much desired change and for the Lord to guide voters to pick for candidates who are hardworking, incorrupt, honest, true to the family, pro life and went on to ask God to guide voters off candidates who are into illegal drugs and immoral activities. 

The short program also had Muslim Community leader Datumanong Ambur along with Fr Jubac leading the ecumenical prayers for the same purpose. 

The caravan moves to Jagna, Guindulman, Ubay, Talibon and Tubigon distributing leaflets and flyers in each 20 minute stop before going back to a closing program at the Tagbilaran City Central market in the later afternoon. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)