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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider 'Botong Katoliko' campaign launched vs 'legalized vote-buying' for BSKE in QC

'Botong Katoliko' campaign launched vs 'legalized vote-buying' for BSKE in QC

Published Oct 28, 2023 05:57 am

A Catholic group in Project 4, Quezon City has launched a campaign against “legalized-vote buying” activities, wherein state-funded social intervention programs were allegedly utilized by Barangay and Sangganuing Kabataan Elections (BSKE) candidates to bribe voters to get their support.

Lay leaders in Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish (OLMMP) in Barangay Marilag, Project 4  have launched the “Botong Katoliko” campaign after the government-financed Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) programs were reportedly used in legalized vote-buying schemes to favor candidates allied with a politician.

“The group agreed that it is high time we launch the Botong Katoliko campaign as an antidote against the vile and corruption injected into the AICS and TUPAD programs by certain politicians,” said businessman Diego Arias, a civic leader and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council based at the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish. 

He added that their group has agreed to push for a Catholic vote that would attempt to rally the faithful into supporting BSKE bets being threatened by the ill effects of the alleged bribery done through the programs.

Arias also revealed that candidates endorsed by a politician have started conducting house-to-house operations to offer voters AICS or TUPAD benefits in exchange for their support in the October 30 BSKE polls. The operations reportedly began in July and August,   

He also said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte had previously assailed this scheme in a speech delivered during the recent commemoration of the “Barangay Day.”

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) AICS program aims to provide up to P5,000 cash aid to individuals experiencing temporary financial crisis or to the victims of flood and other calamities.

The TUPAD program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is another social intervention program that grants temporary jobs such as a few hours of street sweeping to the unemployed, the group said.

It added that lawmakers are granted the authority to identify beneficiaries of the two programs which government thought would address the social and economic displacement caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

Arias said that some politicians have adopted the noble social intervention programs to oil their respective political machinery.

“Sa halip na matulungan ang mga tunay na may krisis, ang mga pinipiling benepisaryo ay iyon lamang mga papayag na sumuporta sa politiko tuwing may halalan, katulad ng BSKE (Instead of helping those who are really in crisis, the chosen beneficiaries are only those who agree to support a politician during elections like BSKE),” Arias said.

“Kadalasan puro miyembro ng mga piling pamilya ang nakatatanggap ng benepisyo. Buti sana kung tunay na hikahos ang mga ito (Members of chosen families are the ones who usually receive benefits. It would be good if they are truly struggling) ,” he added.

He also urged the DSWD and DOLE to review its implementation of their respective programs to ensure that they are ‘corruption-free'.”

“Let me also clarify that Botong Katoliko is a volunteer organization of Catholic faithful. Walang kinalaman ang mga pari o sinumang opisyal ng simbahang Katoliko sa grupong ito (Priests and Catholic Church officials have nothing to with the group),” Arias said.

He added that the campaign is not intended to alienate or offend other religious sects.

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