Survey: Get money, but don’t vote for buying politicos

by Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Will the electorate  vote for a candidate who buys votes?  

A survey done by the Montanosa Press Club showed respondent-voters  will accept the money but won’t necessarily vote for the candidate whom the moneyis  intended for. 

A survey done in  six  towns of   Bontoc, ,Barlig, Sagada, Sabangan,  Bauko, Besao showed ­­­­­ 45 percent of 546  respondents  said they  will accept  the money; 13 percent  respondents  said  maybe  while 28 percent  were  categorical in saying they will not  get the money.  

Fourteen percent did not respond.A total of 546 respondents were interviewed in  91 barangays of  Sagada, Bontoc, Sabangan, Barlig, Bauko and  Besao. 

Random sampling of  six respondents per  barangay  were  taken by  volunteers from the  Benguet State University’s   Development  Communication  interns who  interviewed respondents from Bontoc and  Sagada. 

Volunteers from the Mountain Province Youth Alliance conducted survey in Barlig and Sadanga towns while  youth volunteers from Sabangan, Sagada, and Bauko conducted the survey in  Sabangan, Bauko and Besao.

As to whether they will vote for the candidate whom the money is intended for, 4 percent  said they would, 53 percent  said maybe while 43 percent said no.

Respondents said their choice candidate maybe the one who gave the money, but if the candidate is not their candidate which the money is intended for, they will not vote for said  candidate.

While vote-buying is manifested in different forms, some voters are reportedly receiving 500 peso bills  plus Maling canned pork and  noodles for a candidate.

Fake money bills are also being reportedly distributed in the name of one candidate to destroy said candidate while 500 to 1000 pesos bills are reportedly being given to voters in the  eastern front.