Candidate’s camp sets ‘early voting’ in Bulacan town

 A GROUP identified with a candidate running for a local position in Bustos, Bulacan, is eyeing to stage an ‘early voting scheme’ where bribed voters would already be marked with ‘indelible ink’ to make it appear they have cast their votes ahead of the actual election this Monday, May 12.

Information coming out of the town earlier identified a so-called ‘Bustos Big Four’ as behind the massive bribing of voters that started at the opening of the week, May 5 where voters hauled in several ‘Vote Buying Stations’ (VBS) were reportedly paid P2,000 each.

As of the latest census, Bustos has more than 50,000 voters. On the other hand, there are 3 aspirants for the mayoralty post, 2 for the vice mayoralty post while 21 candidates are vying for the post of councilors.

The Bustos Big Four is reportedly supporting the electoral bid of the candidate closely identified with the camp of Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando.

The group had reportedly “promised” another wave of vote buying in favor of their candidate as the election day nears.

In the latest operation, at least three houses in Bgy. San Pedro are being eyed as impromptu ‘polling centers’ whereby a finger of those agreeing to sell their votes would already be marked with indelible ink. The scheme is reportedly scheduled over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, sources familiar with the operation said.

The marking of a finger thru an indelible ink is standard practice in Philippine elections to prevent the multiple casting of votes by a single voter.

After being bribed for the second time, the finger of a participating voter would be reportedly marked with an indelible ink.

It is not immediately clear whether the indelible ink to be used for election cheating is similar with those to be officially used by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) this Monday.

Target of the operation, on the other hand, are the supporters of another candidate who is expected to win the contested position if the elections were held today, based on the result of all local surveys.