There's Corruption - and then there's Corruption

[davewe]

A lot of us are pretty interested in the political corruption in the Philippines. Personally I think most politicians everywhere are crooks, but I get the concern. But here's a story I have been dying to tell. My wife flipped when I suggested I wanted to write about it in my blog. So, you all can keep a secret - right?

The day of the election my MIL was given an envelope from the local bagman, containing I am told 7k Pesos; 1k for each voting aged adult in the family. For a poor family this is serious cash. My MIL has in the past actually refused such offerings, but in this case since she intended to vote for the bribing Mayor and Councilman anyway - well why not.

Everyone went to vote. Unfortunately one of her sons is 20 and now lives and works in Cebu City. He came home to vote. Somehow he was not listed as having registered and after some confusion was not allowed to vote.

My MIL immediately went to bagman central and attempted to return 1k. After all they had only gotten 6 of the votes they purchased and she could not in all good conscience keep the 7th money. I am not making this up!! The man apparently looked at her like she was crazy and tried everything he could think of to get her to keep the money. She was adamant. Finally he told her "you can return 500P and keep the other 500P for transportation costs." She decided she could live with that and agreed, returning 500P.

Later that day she went shopping at the Mercado. While there she ran into the female Councilwoman candidate who asked whether she realized that some of the money in the envelope had come from her. My MIL had realized and confirmed that all the family had voted for her. The Councilwoman slipped her another 200P for "transportation costs."

Who says everyone is corrupt? Not my MIL.

 

 

[Gerald Glatt]

You would never see that in the States.  Here people spend $1,000,000 to try and get a job (congress) that pays $179,000 per year foe two years.  You can be assured that there is NO corruption here. 

[Hey Steve]

Sometimes, Dave, if certain people get elected in this way (shh ..money for snacks), at the end of the day, there's nothing more expensive than a free lunch.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Hey Steve

[mogo51]

 

What price for the Presidency of the US Gerald?  The sums there are astronomical and obscene IMO.  Both major parties in Oz spend millions, but only a fraction of what is spend in the States.  

I tried to read and understand your nomination process, but gave up.  It just seems a matter of who has the biggest bag of money and can out trump the others.  Bugger who might be the best candidate!

[Jack Peterson]

My grand father used to say way back in the 60's 'Corruption and the Corrupt' are like "Communism and the Communist"

With Communism you are all equal but some are more equal than others.

With Corruption, Most Politicians and those in High places + many, may others, are Corrupt but some are more Corrupt than Others.

Just saying 

[frozenmystic28]

I was offered once, I took the money but proceed to vote for my preferred candidate. they won't even know anyway. Heyyy! There's nothing wrong fooling a crook right?

[Sander Martin]

On local shire elections back home in Estonia 5 years ago a long running councilman rented a minibus and bought cases of 0,5L bottles of vodkas. He picked up all the bums and alcoholics and took them to vote. They got a roadtrip and a bottle of vodka for their troubles. Apparently thats how the guy has got into the council for the last 15years ?. This time he got caught, but nothing happened. He claimed that he just provided transport for the less fortunate people and gave them the bottles for nothing.

[mogo51]

That sounds like good marketing skills to me.

[robert k]

2 hours ago, frozenmystic28 said:

I was offered once, I took the money but proceed to vote for my preferred candidate. they won't even know anyway. Heyyy! There's nothing wrong fooling a crook right?

I hope you got money from both sides!

[davewe]

I should add to the story that upon hearing of the return of the money my wife yelled at her mother. She was laughing but actually said, "No wonder you're poor."

Apparently she no longer counts herself as being among the poor Filipinos :)