‘Hakot' now and later

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Commission on Election noted that during the last days of registration of voters, thousand flocked to the Comelec office in various forms of transportation. It was clear that the registrants were herded and brought in by their political patrons. This is the “hakot” system that has become a common sight during the elections.

That they were brought to the Comelec office for registration is not a recent one. This had been going every election time. There are people in the barangays who wait at the last minute to register knowing that political ward leaders will seek them out, bring them to the Comelec office and provide snacks and pocket money.

This is not an election offense. The Comelec welcomes this as it gets the recalcitrant voters to register. There is no law prohibiting this system.

This practice costs money but the expenditures is worth their value. The ward leader usually collects proof of registration to be given back only on Election Day when the “hakot” system takes place again, this time to the precincts.

The voters are transported, given the handbill of the candidates' names and escorted to the polling place. After showing proof of voting for their patron, they are given cash, snacks and transport home.

This is reason that depopulated barangays due to relocation continues to have large voting strength larger than actual residents.

The “hakot” system during the election is prohibited by law that punishes giving money or other forms of inducements to voters. But the Comelec and politicians never check on this practice that is clearly a form of vote buying.

It is not also included in the report of election expenses but this practice is one of the most expensive of electoral operations. Consider the running rate of from a low of P200 per head to P500 for the recalcitrant and a city election can mean millions far greater than allowed by law for each voter.

When all violate the law, who is to enforce it?

There are crusaders of all types during the elections but nobody has ever bothered to check on this illegal practice. Politicians do not complain because it would be like the kettle complaining the pot of being black.*