BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO

Vote buying was “terribly and shamefully rampant” in Bohol during the May 12, 2025 midterm elections, according to a preliminary report released by the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), placing Bohol province at the top of its list of monitored hotspots.

The EU mission, which deployed 226 observers across the country, said Bohol showed some of the most brazen and entrenched cases of vote buying, including reports of candidates engaging in bidding wars to purchase voter support with cash, goods, and politically motivated aid.

“Vote buying is endemic and rooted in socio-economic inequalities,” Deputy Chief Observer Manuel Sánchez de Nogués told reporters in Manila.

“In Bohol, observers received credible reports — and in some cases direct observation — of these illegal practices, despite our presence.”

The EU team said it documented similar cases in Davao Oriental, La Union, Palawan, Quezon, Siquijor, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga del Sur.

But Bohol, they stressed, stood out for both the scale and brazenness of the transactions.

Entrenched Practices Amid Political Dynasties

Bohol, a tourism-dependent province known for its Chocolate Hills and tarsier sanctuaries, also remains a stronghold of entrenched political dynasties, which EU observers identified as a key driver of electoral malpractice.

Incumbent Governor Aris Aumentado and his wife, 2nd District Representative Maria Vanessa Aumentado, both secured re-election.

The EU report noted that vote buying in Bohol ranged from PHP150 to as much as PHP5,000 per voter.

In many cases, candidates distributed cash or material goods at campaign events — particularly in rural areas where poverty heightens voter vulnerability.

Observers also flagged the use of social media to document and even justify vote buying.

One viral post on X described Bohol as having “the biggest chunks of the vote buying spree.”

Church Criticism

In a separate development, Bishop Alberto “Abet” Uy of Tagbilaran expressed moral disapproval of the practice, warning during a homily that candidates who bought votes should not request thanksgiving masses after their victory. “Sus noh,” the bishop remarked in Cebuano, expressing dismay.

Access Restrictions and Weak Enforcement

Despite a memorandum of understanding with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) allowing full access to polling sites, EU monitors said they were denied entry to several precincts in Bohol and other provinces after voting hours.

Comelec had earlier restricted EU access during voting, citing legal constraints.

Comelec reported a record 81.65% voter turnout, with over 981,000 voters participating in Bohol alone.

However, the EU noted enforcement of vote-buying laws remains weak, and called for reforms to modernize the country’s outdated 1985 Omnibus Election Code.

Call for Reform

The EU EOM plans to release a final report within two months, with detailed recommendations.

Chief Observer Marta Temido said breaking the cycle of vote buying in provinces like Bohol requires systemic reforms and strong political will.

“Filipino voters showed inspiring civic engagement,” Temido said. “But real change means tackling the economic and political roots of electoral misconduct.”

Bishop Uy Slams Vote Buying, Urges Reflection on Election Wins

TAGBILARAN Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran criticized candidates who won through vote buying, saying their victory was not due to merit but to money.

“They should not rejoice,” Uy said following Monday’s elections. “Their win was not because of who they are, but because of what they gave.”

The bishop had been vocal in his opposition to vote buying in the weeks leading up to the polls.

Despite the Church’s campaign, reports indicated that vote buying remained widespread.

Fr. Gerardo “Jingboy” Saco, parish priest of Manga, said some candidates struggled to distribute money as volunteers closely monitored suspicious movements in the area.

Saco also revealed that some parishioners were angered by the Church’s campaign and blamed him for it.

He earlier appealed to candidates to avoid Manga and take their vote-buying operations elsewhere.

The Catholic Church has consistently campaigned against vote buying, condemning it as a corrupt practice that has become ingrained in every election cycle.