Tuesday, May 08, 2007 BOPK warns against use of ink in cheating
THE Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) yesterday cautioned the Comelec and the public in Cebu City on the circulation of the “magic” indelible ink, which could be used in vote-buying schemes.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the ink is being circulated in some barangays in the south district where vote-buying is allegedly rampant. Rama, however, did not name the source of the ink.
Unlike the black indelible ink used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the ink being circulated is colorless and takes effect only five to six hours after it is dabbed on the voter’s fingernail.
Rama said he received reports over the weekend that supporters of some candidates in the south district are already gathering the names of voters, possibly for vote-buying activities.
The ink was reportedly distributed in Barangays Suba and Tisa.
Negative buying
BOPK candidates are worried that the magic ink will be offered to the voters, who will also be given money provided that they have their fingers marked with the ink hours before the polling places open on May 14.
“Perhaps this will be used for negative vote buying because if you have the magic ink on your finger, you will not be able to enter the precinct and you will not be able to vote,” Rama told reporters yesterday.
In a phone interview yesterday, south district congressional candidate Jonathan Guardo said he also heard reports about the circulation of the ink, and that they will be used by BO-PK to ensure their candidates’ victory in the May 14 polls.
“I have heard reports na kalaki na sa BOPK and ila na sad ning gamiton ron... In 2004, naa diri sa Cebu City ang manipulation to make Arroyo win... I am the new candidate, wala na nga scheme sa among party. I don’t even know how the ink works (It’s BO-PK’s scheme),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
For his part, Mayor Tomas Osmeña urged the Cebu-Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel) and the media to help monitor vote buying of any form, including the use of the ink.
Rama admitted that city officials can do very little to prevent vote buying, that is why he appealed to the public not to sell their votes.
“Advocacy ra gyud atong mahimo ani. Dili na lang gyud unta sila mudawat or if nakadawat na man gani, undang na lang ug dawat for the sake of the youth kay ila mang ning kaugmaon (Advocacy is our resort. They should not accept money or if they already received cash, they should stop it for the sake of our youth because this is for their future),” Rama said.
Canvassing
Meanwhile, Election Officer for the North District Marchel Sarno confirmed that they already finalized the venue of the canvassing of votes. This will be held at the Ecotech Center in Sudlon in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
The Comelec will lease the Ecotech conference hall for two weeks starting on May 13 but the rent will be charged to the City Government’s election reserve fund, Sarno said.
In an interview yesterday noon, Osmeña said he does not mind holding the canvassing at the Ecotech even if it is located in his opponent’s barangay.
Mayoral candidate Mary Ann delos Santos is barangay captain of Lahug.
“The City will just support the Comelec but I won’t tell them what to do. It’s up to them to decide, as long as it’s reasonable and acceptable to Comelec. I don’t want to give the other side an excuse to accuse us of cheating,” Osmeña said. (LCR)
