For many residents of Eastern Visayas, the only days better than Christmas are the days leading up to elections.
The reason: these would be the days political aspirants in the region are the "most generous" to voters.
"Badil" — a local term for any amount given by political aspirants to voters in exchange for their support in the elections — has become a way of life in Eastern Visayas, to the chagrin of those pushing for a "cleaner" elections and an abolition of such practices that they say have corrupted voters in the region.
Blatant
At the beginning of May, incidents of vote-buying have been reported in various parts of Eastern Visayas.
Voters were allegedly offered amounts ranging from P20 to P5,000 in Leyte, and an even bigger amount allegedly being given in the province of Samar.
Photos of Taclobanons enduring the scorching heat for an alleged P1,300 at Pacific Point on May 2 had made headlines for the very obvious transaction happening in broad daylight.
In addition, voters themselves posted their "badil" on social media with photos of bills as high as P1,000 to bills as low as P20 stapled to flyers of supposed candidates.
Meanwhile, amounts allegedly up to P5,000 were being offered to voters in Basey, Samar.
Integral To Culture
Unfortunately, critics against the “vote-buying culture” were given bad raps as Leyteños defended that it is normal and part of the culture in Eastern Visayas to receive bills during campaign period.
Despite the supposed campaign against vote buying practices, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) stated that they may have heard of such incidents but they are not allowed to take action unless the act was documented. It is very unfortunate to think that an investigation from their part does not seem to be an option despite the obvious occurrences.
“They should execute an affidavit and not just post it on social media. It is not enough to disclose that they receive money from candidates,” said the assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections Atty. Felicisimo Embalsado.
An Investment
It is no secret that a campaign as it takes a big chip in the aspirants’ bank account and entering the game of politics is an investment itself which more often than not eventually leads to corruption as politicians try to recover the losses spent during elections once they are seated.
According to iMoney.ph, vice mayors from components cities alone earn between ₱113,891 - ₱127,557 per month while their voters continue to scrape off of their minimum wages or at times even less.
Dignity vs Necessity
One voter from Tacloban stated that it may be wrong to accept the amount for some, but a P100 bill from those politicians allow them to buy a kilo of rice and two cans of sardines to ease their hunger for a couple of days.
“Okay gad la ma’am diri kumarawat kun diri gihap kami gipit. Tikang man la gihap ngani ito ha am buwis nga ira pinapanhatag salit kakarawton nam baman kun man daog na ito dinaman tun man ngangasi,” said an anonymous voter from Tolosa.
Unfortunately, the need for immediate fill-for-the-hungry-stomach can cloud one’s judgment as they put their immediate need over the chance of choosing a leader who could help ease their living for six years.