Poll watchdog out vs vote-buying

Vice President Teofisto Guingona yesterday said his reform advocacy movement Bangon has forged an agreement with the electoral watchdog group, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), to conduct an intensified campaign against vote-buying during the May 2004 national elections.

In a joint statement, Guingona and PPCRV national chairman Antonio Ventosa announced that their organizations are joining forces to push their shared crusade against poll fraud.

Bangon and PPCRV officials met at Guingona’s office at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City Wednesday to discuss key areas of cooperation between the two non-partisan groups. The meeting was also attended by Bangon secretary general Ariel Ortilla, PPCRV liaison officer Alberto Francisco and Bangon convenors Teddy Benigno Jr. and Cesar Sarino.

Guingona said the two groups were "committed to help each other in achieving their common goal of safeguarding the conduct of the May 2004 elections" as he expressed concern over the possibility of "wholesale vote-buying" and other fraudulent electoral practices.

During the meeting Wednesday, Guingona and Ventosa said "voters are approached right in their homes and are offered huge sums of money for the voter/s to either guarantee that they will vote for a specific candidate or, if not, for them not to vote and just stay in their homes." — Sammy Santos