Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Erwin Garcia is keen on amending the existing laws on vote buying to deter instances of it occurring during the election period.
In a radio interview on DZBB, Garcia said that the only solution he sees to solve the problem of vote buying is to revise the existing laws. First of which is to put heavier penalties that will cause offenders to think twice before doing the illegal act, according to him.
Next is to make the process more convenient for complainants who seek to file charges by easing the requirements. Garcia said that this will make it easier for them to file the cases before court. He added that although he understands that the burden of proof is on the complainants, in the end, they will be asked to produce a multitude of evidence to prove their claim. "Sa bandang huli kakailanganin ng sobrang daming ebidensya para lang mapatunayan yung tao na guilty (In the end, they will need a lot of evidence just to prove the person being charged is guilty)," he said.
"Samantalang meron naman pong solusyon na mapadali ang proseso sa pag prosecute sa mga taong involved na namimili o nagbebenta ng kanilang boto (Even though there is a way wherein a person involved in vote buying or selling can easily be prosecuted," he added.
Garcia disclosed that out of more than 1,000 reports that were received by Task Force Kontra Bigay, only three have decided to push through with their complaints and press charges.
Meanwhile, he also clarified that if a vote buying case was filed against an elected public official before the elections, the poll body has the power to remove the person from his or her post.
In an interview in March, Garcia said that in the event that the candidate has already been proclaimed and is already serving as an elected official, he explained that they can still annul his or her proclamation.
"The rules on succession can now be effective," he said.
He made the statement to erase doubts that it may already be "too late" if a candidate already gets proclaimed. As far as vote buying is concerned, Garcia stated that the poll body has all the resources, powers as well as the jurisdiction to implement policies.