ILOILO – With just 11 days left before the May 12 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is making a strong appeal to the 1,649,730 registered voters in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province: Don’t sell your vote — exercise your right of suffrage responsibly.
Provincial Election Supervisor Reinier Layson stressed that the integrity of the elections — and the future of the country — lies in the hands of voters who must choose leaders based on merit and vision, not on money or favors.
“We return the challenge to our people. We must go to our polling centers and vote responsibly. Do not desecrate our democracy by selling your vote. It is time we take the future of our nation seriously,” Layson said.
He also warned against the misleading advice to “just accept the money but vote for your real candidate,” noting that this often comes with sample ballots that lead to vote manipulation — actions that still constitute vote-buying and vote-selling under the Omnibus Election Code.
Comelec is encouraging voters to report any incidents of vote-buying and selling to law enforcement or election authorities for immediate investigation.
Layson emphasized that ensuring a clean and successful election is not solely the responsibility of Comelec, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), or Department of Education (DepEd) — but of every citizen.
Voters must choose leaders who can genuinely help the country, not those who offer money or gifts in exchange for power, he stressed.
“All agencies are ready to fulfill their duties,” he said. “But we need the cooperation of every citizen to guarantee a secure, honest, and peaceful election.”
Comelec anticipates a voter turnout of at least 75 percent in Iloilo, driven by heightened campaigning from candidates and the usual declaration of election day as a special non-working holiday.
However, the commission is still awaiting Malacañang’s official declaration on whether May 12 will be a holiday./PN
