AS election season unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that government aid is being exploited not as a social service, but as a political tool.
In cities like Malabon, the use of the Ahon Malabon Blue Card — a system meant to distribute financial assistance — has raised serious concerns.
What should be a neutral and fair welfare program now appears to be a thinly veiled campaign mechanism, raising red flags both ethically and legally.
Under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines (Section 261, Paragraph a), vote-buying is strictly prohibited.
The law defines it as any act of giving, offering or promising money or anything of value to influence a person’s vote.
When politicians use public funds, collected from taxpayers, to hand out aid in exchange for support, they are not only engaging in a form of electoral fraud but also undermining public trust in governance.
Worse, such practices may eventually lead to criminal liability — not just for the politician, but also for public officials and even voters who knowingly participate in these transactions.
To the politicians treating aid as a ticket to power: public service is not charity — it is duty. The money being distributed is not yours; it belongs to the people.
Leveraging it to win votes is not only unjust but dangerous to democracy. Such tactics may win you short-term popularity but will cost you long-term credibility and may even expose you to legal sanctions.
If you truly aim to serve, let your record and platform speak — not your cash envelopes.
And to voters, especially those receiving aid through programs like Malabon’s Ahon Card: yes, accept what you are entitled to. But remember, accepting aid in exchange for your vote is also a form of complicity.
You deserve better than being used as a pawn. Voting should be based on integrity and proven service, not on handouts that came from your own taxes.
The future you choose today is the leadership you will live with tomorrow —choose wisely.
