May 20, 2025 at 1:00:00 PM
Art by Angeline Mae Villaneuva/The Capital
TONDO IS one of the districts in Manila that has long been a magnet for politicians seeking electoral favor often through the practice of vote-buying.
Former Manila second district representative Manny Lopez said that running candidates of Manila were engaged in early and massive vote-buying, treating the people of Tondo as if they were “for sale.”
But some residents, say they have learned how to “play the game” with these politicians.
On April 25, three leading mayoral candidates, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan, and Samuel “SV” Versoza received show cause orders over alleged vote-buying in Manila, including in Tondo.
"Buong Tondo. Pagkakaisahin nila yung buong Manila. Gagather nila ‘no tapos ang huli non diba magkakamayan na…may mag-aabot na ng ano [pera]," Barangay 123 resident Mario Marcelo told The Capital.
Marcelo said that senior citizens received a minimum of two thousand pesos and two kilos of rice during the distribution event in Kagitingan, Tondo, where the three mayoral candidates allegedly participated.
"We just accept it but we do not vote them, we vote others. Kung may ibibigay, edi tanggapin," Marcelo said.
Many justify the practice by insisting that accepting money does not determine their actual vote. For long-time voters in Tondo, it is a survival tactic, an unspoken deal in the larger game of politics. But are they truly outsmarting the system, or being used by it?
Vote-buying, a serious offense under the Omnibus Election Code, involves giving money or goods for votes and is punishable by one to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from office, loss of voting rights, and a minimum P10,000 fine for political parties involved.
According to Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) volunteer Richard Sacapano, vote-buying in Tondo comes in many forms.
“Sa aming obserbasyon, karamihan sa mga kumakandidato dito sa Tondo ay nagkaroon ng vote buying sa ibat-ibang pamamaraan tulad ng ayuda, health card, seniors benefit, alok na trabaho at yung iba cash,” he said.
Some residents mistakenly believe that only cash qualifies as vote-buying, overlooking that it can take many other forms to sway voters.
Even though residents like Marcelo, Jesser and Marlo of Barangay 123 admitted to receiving forms of vote-buying, barangay officials denied any such activity in their area.
“May nababalitaan sa aktuwal. Marami talagang ganiyan. Pero dito sa amin, wala n’yan [vote buying],” kagawad Ronnie Mahilum said.
Executive officer Christina Madriaga echoed Mahilum’s statements, saying “Minsan kasi hearsay na lang ng tao yun eh, pero wala ka naman nakikita ng actual. Kasi kahit naman sino madaling magsalita na namimigay si gano'n, namimigay si ganyan.”
But while officials denied the allegations, boxes of DSWD-labeled goods sat in plain view inside the barangay hall, the “ayuda” that residents said had just been distributed.
Marcelo pointed out that vote-buying isn’t limited to handing out cash. “Wala pang umpisa [ng election] meron na. Yung mga pa-ayu-ayuda na ‘yan, vote buying yun. Lahat ng kandidato [kasama doon],” he said.
Despite the denial of vote buying, the presence of the goods in the background reflects concerns raised by residents that electoral influence can also come in the form of distributed assistance.
Economic Needs
Sacapano noted that vote buying is most noticeable in certain areas of Tondo.
“Mas malala ang vote buying sa lugar sa Tondo kung saan maraming informal settlers o squatters' area,” he said.
For residents like Jessera and Marlo, people accept vote-buying simply because of economic hardship.
“Kapag kulang ang trabaho, ibibigay nila [yung boto] para may perang panandalian. Pero tingnan mo pagkatapos ng eleksyon, tingnan mo hindi ka na nila papansinin,” Marlo said.
Meanwhile, Mahilum viewed vote-buying as “pampalubag loob,” or a form of temporary relief rather than political favor, offering short-term financial help for the poor.
The reasons appear to go beyond poverty. For Marcelo, some people accept vote-buying openly because they believe it’s their own, taxpayers’ money, being returned to them.
Moral Ambiguity
The moral compass surrounding vote-buying in Tondo is fluid, shaped by poverty and systemic neglect.
Marcelo argued that those who accept money during elections should not be blamed, as these politicians’ funds come from taxpayers’ money. In his view, the fault lies with those handing out the cash.
"Yung tumatanggap ng pera, walang mali doon eh kasi taxpayers' money nga eh. Pero yung [mali] ay yung kandidato. 'Yun ang dapat na piliin mo. Pero yung tumatanggap, walang [kasalanan] 'yun," he added.
On the other hand, Mahilum, while calling vote-buying a form of relief, believed both parties are at fault.
“Mali pareho. Namimigay siya para sa boto, tumatanggap siya para lang sa pera. Yung isa namigay kala niya iboboto siya pero yung tumanggap hindi pala. Pareho lang sila [na mali],” he said, pointing out that giving money to sway votes and accepting it without true intent to vote are both forms of dishonesty.
While some residents agreed in receiving vote buying, Lita Flores, also from Brgy. 123, views accepting the money as a form of selling oneself.
“Huwag po natin ibenta yung karapatan natin na bumoto. Isipin natin yung kinabukasan na magiging anak natin, mga apo,” Flores said.
While residents may differ in how they perceive vote-buying, under the law, it remains a punishable offense. The PPCRV views its persistence as a troubling sign of unchecked electoral malpractice.
“Nakakalungkot isipin na halos walang nagiging epekto sa mga kandidatong bumili ng boto sa tiwala ng taong bayan, sa iba pa nga ang nagiging dating itong engganyo [sa pera],” Sacapano said.
He suggested that curbing vote-buying must begin by requiring candidates to attend Church-led values formation sessions, encouraging citizens to report incidents through social media, and expanding COMELEC’s monitoring throughout the campaign period.
The normalization of vote-buying in Tondo reflects a deeper problem that residents no longer see as illegal, but simply part of how the political game is played.
In a place where survival outweighs ideals, the line between choice and compromise has faded into a shadow the city can no longer ignore.
Malihum said when it comes to politics, Tondo knows how to play along.
“Yung mga hindi bumibili ng boto sigurado siya na totoo ang pagboto sa kaniya ng mga tao. Pero kung nagvovote buying...ganyan na yan, sakyan na.” - Angeline Mae Villanueva
TAGS:
Tondo, Vote buying, Elections, Manny Lopez