MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave a stern warning that it will go after those engaged in vote buying and vote selling as it intensifies its regulations during electoral exercises, especially with the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
During the launch of the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) on Friday, Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said they will pinpoint particular activities and acts that shall be “presumed” as vote buying and vote selling.
These include possessing or delivery of any coins, notes, monies, cards, pay envelopes, bags, groceries, tokens or anything of value, together with sample ballots or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate; having long lines or queues of registered voters/persons for the distribution of money, discount, insurance or health cards, grocery items and such other goods, intended to be used to induce the persons to vote for or against any candidate; employing the “hakot” system or the gathering of two or more registered voters to a specific place before election day and on election day.
The Comelec is also implementing a money ban, prohibiting the possession, transport and/or carrying of cash exceeding P500,000 or its equivalent in any foreign currency, along with campaign paraphernalia and/or corroborating evidence during the period of two days before an election and on election day.
Comelec is likewise implementing an ayuda ban, wherein it shall be prohibited to give, distribute and receive any assistance or ayuda except those which are normally given to qualified individuals, such as food, transportation, medical, education, burial and such other similar assistance during the campaign period, on the day before the elections and on election day.
The CKB is also establishing the KontraBigay Complaint Center, which shall receive complaints and reports of vote-buying and vote-selling from any citizen who has personally witnessed the act of offering or promising by or of voter’s acceptance of money or other consideration from the relatives, leaders or sympathizers of a candidate.
At the same time, the CKB is also allowing warrantless arrest, wherein any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when, in his or her presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing or is attempting to commit the election offense of vote-buying and vote-selling.
“When it comes to vote buying and vote selling, it won’t be business as usual. There will be no sleeping during our watch,” Maceda said.
Maceda, who chairs the CKB, stressed that vote buying and vote selling is an insult to the essence of democratic exercise, which is the elections.
“Next to the forceable stealing of votes, the worst of these impositions is vote buying and vote selling... It is an affront to all voters as it interferes with our right to express choices only to replace them with fake ones,” said Maceda.
Further, he pointed out, “It is an insult to the Commission and our election stakeholders as it wastes our time and hard work in ensuring a neutral voting environment. It is an assault on democracy itself as the majority decision is disrespected.”