Allegations of Vote-Buying Surface in Dumangas, Iloilo Ahead of BSKE

Campaigning under the banner of “STRAIGHT VOTE,” together with the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), has raised concerns in Dumangas, Iloilo as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) approach.

Former Barangay Captain Antonio Sarroza Jr. of Sulangan raised these concerns as he runs for the position of Barangay Captain again. According to him, it is evident that the AICS is being used to buy votes, with politicians under the Biron clan allegedly leading the distribution of money ranging from P2,000 to P3,000 per person.

Sarroza claimed that the money is not passing through the barangay officials, and even their Barangay Captain is unaware of any AICS distribution in their area.

The former Captain emphasized that this is a significant disadvantage for them, the opposition, as it affects the votes of the public. AICS is a government program designed to assist residents affected by calamities, but Sarroza argued that, aside from the absence of a crisis in their area, some recipients of the assistance are not among the economically disadvantaged and even have businesses.

Sarroza questioned the stance of Carmelo Nochete, the DSWD-6 Regional Director, and Roqueta Jamson, the Dumangas Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), regarding the issue. He criticized the use of AICS for political campaigning and highlighted the potential ethical concerns of such practices.