Why Vote-Buying is an Open Secret during Elections in the Philippines?

Vote-buying and vote-selling are just two of the most common things one can think of during the elections in the Philippines. We all know its wrong but why haven't we put a stop to it? And why are those people behind such not made accountable? We've seen it in TV, read all about it in the papers or all over the internet and sometimes have our firsthand experience.

Here's the thing, the Philippines is considered as a developing country. Though it sounds more pleasant than being called a third-world country, not much has changed about the majority of it's citizens' socioeconomic status, regardless of how the media or the government try to project otherwise. I should know, my family practically lives along the poverty threshold. Most of the people get by and try to make a living with whatever they can just short of committing unlawful things. Sometimes even no-good doers cite their poverty for doing crimes which is well...

It has become "understandable" for people to accept money during elections as most point out, it is the people's money anyway. Politicians, especially those already in service, are supposedly using the kaban ng bayan. Let's give others the benefit of the doubt, some pay from their own pockets or via their sponsors! (Half-joking here!) But seriously speaking, I have yet to meet or know of a politician who won the election without having to resort to vote-buying. Sure, some candidates are assumed of a landslide win just by his / her followers but the money involved comes as an assurance of sort for some of the followers. It may be the candidate or any of his / her supporters or alipores giving out the money but if its during the election, whatever they may call the "giving-out" of money it is still vote-buying.

This is one of the not-so great practice of the Filipinos that seems to be a part of our culture already. Its not very honorable at all and though I believe it's not impossible for us to beat this habit. It would really take quite a loooong  time for us to break free from. And supposing that job opportunities and government assistance in livelihood and welfare development are no longer hard to come by, things would look pretty optimistic. But until then, people would continue to justify accepting bribes and selling their votes just to make ends met. I don't want to generalize but as far as I'm concerned, I've seen these things before.