CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Police Regional Office of Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) has created the regional special watch team to monitor the possible occurrence of vote-buying and selling.
In an interview on Saturday (May 7), PRO-10 spokesperson Lt. Col. Michelle Olaivar said the creation of the regional special watch team is in line with the Kontra Bigay Task Force, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other line agencies.
“This is to eliminate or reduce the illegal act of vote-buying and vote-selling, including the payment of permit to win and permit to campaign and its prosecution,” said Olaivar.
Aside from the regional headquarters, there will also be a special watch team per provincial and city police offices in the region.
“A special watch team was also created in the province and city police offices. They will validate reports received, endorsed and monitored by the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC),” she said.
The REMAC will be the center to collect the data relative to election concerns from the ground.
In a television interview on Friday, May 6, Col. Jean Fajardo, the spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the PNP will activate its monitoring team to assist the Comelec, including in the filing cases relative to reports of vote-buying.
It can be recalled that Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, the chairperson of Task Force Kontra Bigay, issued a memorandum directing the law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce the statutory prohibition against vote-buying and vote selling.
Olaivar urged the public to not be involved in vote-buying and selling, stressing that the proper usage of everyone’s vote during elections will lead to a better country.
She also encouraged the public to set an example, especially to the next generation on how to become a responsible voter.
“Whether there is someone watching us or not, we should all obey. We should set an example in our family and in our community. This is the perfect opportunity for us to change the mindset of the people every election. This should no longer reach the next generation,” Olaivar stressed.