Drilon warns public not to sell their votes

Angono, RIZAL – Team Pnoy campaign manager, Franklin Drilon urged the electorate on Wednesday against selling their votes on the May 13 election day.

Drilon issued the statement after receiving reports that quarters are out to lure voters into selling their votes with just a week away before polls.

“I appeal to the electorate not to accept money from candidates or their emissaries in exchange for your votes. Kapag ginawa ninyo iyon, tayong taumbayan ang matatalo sa huli dahil mga corrupt ang mailalagay sa pwesto,”  said Drilon.

The Liberal Party comrade warned voters against accepting, directly or indirectly, money, transportation allowance, food and drinks as these “undermine the integrity of the election.”

"Let us safeguard our votes against cheaters and poll manipulators, whether they will come from the opposing party or the ruling party," he added.

Senator Drilon also dismissed claims that the administration will manipulate the result of the election, saying with President Benigno Aquino III being strongly against electoral fraud, “cheating is out of the equation.”

"This administration never tolerates fraud and cheating. Let us not forget that the cleansing of voters’ list in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao was made possible during the Aquino watch,” Drilon said.

"If cheating in order to win is our goal, we would not have exercised efforts to remove the thousands of ghost voters in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), where most cases of electoral frauds took place," he added.

Drilon called on the people to be vigilant against election fraud and report irregularities immediately to authorities.

"Ensuring an honest election is a duty not only left to the government; it is the responsibility of every citizen of a nation to safeguard their votes," he said.

 - Danielle Gabriel

(P.S Just trying my hand in news writing)