Editorial writing

SOCORRO 2022 ELECTION: VOTE BUYING HAPPENS

On May 2, 2022, status of Socorro’s election becomes hotter and hotter and becomes more
perilously. The two rival parties namely Mabungahong Socorro and Team Rainbow actively put
and stationed their several members or supporters in every barangays and every corners of the
national road of Socorro, and even in every small ways just to be the keeper and observer of those
vote buyers who wish to buy the vote of citizens.

Vote buying is a bad activity in every election, it is unlawful and unethical to the guidelines of
COMELEC, and we cannot deny the fact that every election are there still candidates violating the
Philippine Omnibus Election Code (OEC) section 261 or also known as the COMELEC guidelines
just to gain supporters and to be the victorious of the election. On May 7 and 8 of 2022 before the
election day vote buying was a rampant in Socorro, Surigao del Norte in which this activity was
practiced by one of the team of the rival team just to get more votes and to be able to get power.
This activity should be further tightened by the COMELEC and the government so as not to
become one of the traditions and culture of the Socorronhon every elections because the future of
the next generation will be miserable if people dazzle with the short -term pleasure of one's money.
We know that people, especially the poor people are one of their needs is money, but such
weaknesses of these people are exploited by the running candidates just to buy their every vote to
garner support and to be the one to win in the election and can sit in a position.

Vote buying activity must be terminated or abolish by any parties because first and foremost it’s
strictly prohibited from the Omnibus Code of Comelec guidelines. Secondly, it enables poor
governance and undercuts citizens' ability to hold their elected officials accountable. And thirdly,
let the people choose who to be represented them and be free and keep democracy alive in the
country.

The tightening of the ban on vote buying shows clean solidarity and unity with our society and free
elections, but this is contrary to desperate candidates because they will do everything to find a hole
to buy and get a lot of votes from the people just to hold office in a government and to have a
power.

Strictly implementation of ban vote buying is a good action and shows love, value and support to
our motherland. It displays to the society to stand on their foot and to be in their selves to be able to
have peace, clear and clean future of the next generations.

-Joselito M. Jualo
BSED-English 3-A