Vote sellers fear reprisal from losing bets

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines – Voters in this province who sold their votes are hiding for fear that the supporters of the losing candidates might run after them.

“We are afraid they might shoot us,” a 51-year-old farmer said over the radio. He said many of them are in hiding and wouldn’t disclose their whereabouts.

One voter said he was paid P3,000 to vote for a mayoral bet who lost in the election. He said some of them started leaving their homes even before the balloting closed last Monday as they sensed that the candidate would lose.

“It’s safer to leave before they start canvassing the votes in the precincts,” he said in Ilocano. He refused to say if he voted for the candidate.