ZAMBOANGA CITY — First District Rep. Celso Lobregat on Friday reminded the electorate not to be persuaded by candidates running in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) engaged in vote-buying.
Lobregat said reports reaching his office indicated that some of the aspirants are allegedly promising a certain amount of money to voters in exchange for the vote of their family and relatives.
“As much as possible, I would like to remind the public to please maintain the sanctity of their votes. They should not sell their vote to those candidates who look at them as a commodity,” he said.
Lobregat noted that vote-buying happens and cannot be avoided in any electoral process, but it is up to the voters how to deal with the situation.
“We should be vigilant and inform the Comelec (Commission on Elections) of those candidates who are engaging in such unlawful actions before and during election day. They should not be elected into office because of their ulterior motive,” he said.
Lobregat, a registered voter of Barangay Zone 3 in this city, said he will be in town to vote for his choice of candidates to serve the village where he resides, as Congress is on recess. (PNA)
