MANILA (UCAN): Responding to reports of vote buying circulating on social media, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, urged voters on April 20 not to sell their votes for a pittance as it would likely cost the next generation a promising future at the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in May.
Supporters of presidential frontrunner, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and Davao city mayor, Sarah Duterte, were caught on camera distributing white envelopes at a recent rally in Manila.
“Do you know the easiest way to catch a monkey? Just get a coconut, punch a hole in it and put a few candies inside. When the monkey sees or smells the candy, it will insert its hand into the hole and grab the sweets,” the bishop posted on Facebook.
“And because the animal does not want to let go of them, it can’t get away. It’s too late. A few candies cost the monkey’s freedom. The simple secret to freedom is to let go of the candy,” he wrote.
Bishop David said that money distributed to voters is the candy that catches the monkey and that the analogy was a good reminder to voters not to sacrifice freedom for the sake of some candy as the election nears.
“The money offered by corrupt politicians is no different than a few pieces of candy inside a coconut. Grab it and let’s see who is miserable. Not just you but your whole town or country,” he added.
