MARAWI CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 07 May) – Community elders and leaders here are again pushing for an honest, orderly, peaceful, and moreover, safe elections! It is again "red" for Lanao del Sur province, one of the hotspots in this part of the country.
The elders said that it is a common practice for politicians here to hire people from nearby places such as Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities and even as far as Bukidnon province, to vote in Marawi City in exchange for money.
Despite repeated warnings from the authorities and piles and piles of covenant signed between politicians here, money is still being used to lure illegal voters, according to villager elders.
"The reason is economic. The lives of many people are at stake here just for a thousand or a few hundreds of pesos. And this practice is illegal yet it continues to flourish not only in Marawi, but in many places in Mindanao,” said one village leader, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.
“With the existent of feud among rival political clans or factions, everyone is getting crazy on how to outdo the other. The result is usually bloody where lives are being taken without warning. And these illegal voters could be caught in the crossfire.”
"And worst, money is also being used to buy votes. Not to mention the political violence, such us unnecessary killings. This is Philippine elections," said another elder. (Merlyn Manos)
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