DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) acting director Col. Hansel Marantan urged the public to vote with integrity, prioritizing their values and principles over monetary incentives during his message at the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Feb. 10.
Marantan acknowledged that vote-buying typically becomes rampant as elections approach but emphasized that this issue transcends political parties.
“As elections draw near, it’s inevitable that vote-buying will occur. I’m not referring to any specific political party; this is a widespread problem,” he said.
He explained that vote-buying offers varying amounts, from P3,000 to P5,000, and in some cases even as high as P10,000.
However, Marantan pointed out that these sums, when broken down over time, are much less than they appear.
“For example, if someone offers you P10,000 for your vote, let’s break that down. If you divide P10,000 by 365 days, it’s only about P10 per day. Even if it’s P20,000, that’s just P20 per day. Essentially, they’re buying your vote for the equivalent of just a few pesos daily. This makes it seem like a large amount, but in reality, it’s extremely cheap,” he added.
Marantan called on voters to recognize the long-term value of their choices, stressing that they should not allow their votes to be devalued for such small sums.
“Let’s not sell our votes. But if you do accept the P10,000, make sure to vote for what’s in your heart and what’s in your mind. Tell that to your family,” he said.
He elaborated further, explaining that the P10,000 offer might be divided among family members rather than given to individuals.
“Maybe that P10,000 is for the whole family, not per person. So, if divided among three family members, it’s only about P3,000 per day. Do you get the point?” he added.
