‘Hakot-sundo’ system at Pelco elections bared
By Ian Ocampo Flora
PORAC -- Voters in the recent district election of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative (Pelco) 2 here have expressed their annoyance over the long-time practice of candidates of carting off potential voters from the barangays in exchange for their votes.
The system of “Sundo-Hakot,” according to consumers, has been resorted to by candidates to ensure that people would vote for them, especially the voters in far-flung barangays of the cooperative.
The modus operandi has been reported utilized by candidates in the recent district elections in Sasmuan, Santa Rita, and Porac.
According to Catalina Saplala of the Pelco2 Consumers Alliance, the “Hakot Sundo” system had been practiced since 1987. “In my opinion without the Hakot Sundo candidates will even win in the district elections,” Saplala said.
Pelco 2 has been organizing district elections every three years for incoming town district directors. Voting precincts are usually located in a single venue, most often in the town center. This proves to be a difficult feat for member-consumers coming from far-flung areas.
A losing candidate here who asked not to be named said he had also resorted to “Hakot Sundo” because of the “I don’t care” attitude of most of the consumers. “Most consumers are oblivious of what is happening and most of them have a little to vague idea of what a director election is all about,” the candidate said.
“In a way, the hakot-sundo helps in enticing the consumers to vote. The negative part is most of them are not even informed of the importance of what they are doing,” he added.
The district director elections are being held every three years wherein the seven electrical town districts (Sta. Rita, Lubao, Guagua, Bacolor, Mabalacat, Porac, and Sasmuan) of the cooperative would designate their new district directors based on popular votes. The district director is responsible for various consumer issues in the towns to which they were elected. The district director for each town would then sit as a member of the board of directors (BOD) of the cooperative and would be tasked in making collective decisions on the management of Pelco2
Saplala, on the other hand, said consumers should vote for those whom they deem to be able to answer to the needs of consumers. Four remaining electric districts are yet to have their director elections. These include Bacolor (November 24), Mabalacat (December 1), Lubao (December 8) and Guagua (December 16). District directors are set assume office at the start of the coming year.
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