Voters should be wary of ayuda or quarantine aid from politicians who could be using it to buy their votes in 2022, one of the most influential Catholic archbishops in the Philippines said.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, likened voter-buying politicians who dangle bait to the poor, waiting for them to bite it like fish.
"Ang ilan ay nakatatanggap na ng 'ayuda' bago pa man magsimula ang campaign period. Hindi ito maagang tulong. Ito ay maagang corruption," said Villegas, a protege of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
"Nire-rape ng vote buyer ang sikmurang nagugutom. Iginigisa ang mga mahihirap sa sarili nilang mantika. May grand party ang nanalo sa eleksyon sa tatlong taong term of office. Ang nakaw na rekado ay igigisa sa mantika ng dugo at pawis ng dukha."
Villegas also likened vote-buying to deboning bangus, the top produce of his diocese. Without bones, the fish is limp, just like the country's democracy with vote-buying.
He reminded voters that their vote is their dignity. Stripped of it, politicians who bought their votes become their gods, he said.
If asked to sell their vote, Villegas advised the faithful to refuse the offer and report it to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. If they are in dire need, and the politician is asking for nothing in return, accept it as a gift, not a favor.
MORE ON VOTE-BUYING:
Is It Okay to Accept Money From Politicians? Check Your Privilege First
Vote Buying? Pacquiao to Continue Giving Cash Aid, Camp Says
Vote Buying in 2022 Could Go Cashless, Says PNP Chief