Comelec launches Kontra Bigay vs vote buying

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections yesterday urged Filipino voters not to accept money from political candidates engaged in vote buying, and not to vote for them in the May 12 elections.

“Never will the Comelec say (to the voters), accept (the money) but do not vote (for the candidate). Don’t accept and don’t vote because what’s at stake is our future,” said Comelec Chairman George Garcia during the launch of the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

“There is nothing a vote buyer can do if no one takes (the money he is offering). It takes two to tango,” said Garcia.

He added that if voters learn to refuse the money offered by political candidates during election season, it shows that “we are mature people of this maturing democracy, and that is proof that we have control over the future of our country.”

Garcia also expressed concern that vote buyers target poor young voters.

“It is sad that they focus on our youth voters who are poor, especially the first-time voters. Our appeal is for them not to let these people take advantage of their being poor, of their being hungry,” he added.

With the campaign for the midterm elections set to commence on Feb. 11, the Comelec urged the public, including the media, to report any untoward incidents or irregularities so that the Commission can immediately act on it.

“If there is a complaint and it is lacking evidence, it is incumbent upon the Commission or the Committee (on Kontra Bigay) to look for evidence. We will find a way,” Garcia said.

“Today we launch Kontra Bigay 2.0. This initiative is reinforced against abuse of state resources, a silent but pervasive threat to the foundation of our democracy. It has been a crucial weapon against our fight against vote buying and vote selling,” said CKB Commissioner-in-charge Ernesto Maceda Jr.

100-day security plan

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has laid out a 100-day security plan that prioritizes the deployment of additional forces in areas declared by the Comelec as hotspots to secure candidates and the electorate during the campaign period.

There are 403 areas tagged by the Comelec as election hotpots or “election areas of concern,” 38 of which are under the red category or those with a history of violent incidents, intense political rivalry and threats from rebel groups.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said that among these measures are heightened police visibility, strategic deployment of personnel and strengthened coordination with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Marbil also ordered police commanders to intensify checkpoint and intelligence-driven operations to deter lawless groups from sabotaging the elections.

The PNP will also intensify operations against private armed groups, wanted fugitives and loose firearms.

“Our 100-day security plan is designed to ensure that every voting center is protected, every threat is addressed and every citizen can cast their vote without fear,” Marbil said in a statement.

The number of people arrested for violating the nationwide gun ban rose to 691 yesterday. Out of the figure, 655 are civilians, including four foreigners.

The other violators are 22 security guards, six military personnel, a police officer who went absent without leave, three personnel from other law enforcement agencies, an elected government official, two appointed government officials and a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active auxiliary.

Police have seized 692 firearms, gun replicas and explosives.

Marbil urged people to report suspicious activities or election-related violations in their areas.

Ballot verification

To fast-track the verification of printed ballots, Comelec will also tap facilities of other government agencies in Quezon City.

Apart from using the Amoranto Stadium, Comelec said it will also use the space to be provided by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as well as the Quezon City government.

Garcia said NIA has a big space that the Comelec can use since the National Printing Office (NPO) has no extra space.

He said the Quezon City government was also deputized by the Commission to help speed up the ballot verification process.

Garcia stressed the Comelec really needs help now since NPO can’t provide additional space for them.

He said verification of ballots at the Amoranto Stadium will commence today since the venue has already been prepared.

So far, around 16 million ballots have been printed by the NPO and Miru Systems Inc., the poll body’s automation service provider.

The poll body said 72.1 million ballots are to be used in the May 12 elections. — Emmanuel Tupas