Cagayan de Oro: Civil society and religious leaders intensified calls Wednesday for voters to report election violations, with watchdogs noting a surge in social media posts about alleged vote-buying but cautioning they lack concrete evidence so far. The National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) said while it’s monitoring numerous online claims about vote-buying in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, chapter officials stressed the need for formal complaints.
According to Philippines News Agency, NAMFREL’s local coordinator Nestor Banauag urged witnesses to come forward. “We need testimonies from those who can attest that they have observed these illegal activities,” Banauag said in an interview on Wednesday.
Religious leaders joined the appeal, with Iglesia Filipina Independiente’s Fr. Jefferson Palasan, who chairs his church’s Committee on Interfaith Relations, blaming a persistent culture of vote-buying for recycling the same politicians. “One problem is this culture of vote-buying, why we can see almost the same candidates winning every election,” Palasan said.
The campaign gained regional support as Lanao del Sur-based One Bangsamoro Movement separately called on Moro voters to protect election integrity by rejecting vote-selling.
