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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Reports on vote buying, selling incidents not required to be a formal complaint - poll chief

Reports on vote buying, selling incidents not required to be a formal complaint - poll chief

Published Sep 8, 2023 10:45 am

In a bid to further empower citizens, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that reporting incidents of vote buying and selling is not required to be a formal complaint.

BSKE
MB file photo


"Hindi kinakailangang formal complaint, hindi kinakailangang under oath. Ibato lang po sa ating committee, sila na ang bahalang mag-imbestiga. Sila na ang bahalang mangolekta ng ebidensiya (It doesn't have to be a formal complaint, it doesn't have to be under oath. Just give it to the committee, they will be the ones to investigate. They will be the ones to collect evidence)," Garcia said in a press conference on Friday, Sept. 8.

He was referring to the newly-launched Committee on Kontra Bigay which aims to ensure the efficient implementation and enforcement of all policies and guidelines of the poll body to curb vote-buying and vote-selling in time for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The said committee was created through Comelec Resolution No. 10946 promulgated on Aug. 30, 2023.

Under Section 36 of the resolution, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda, the chairperson of the newly launched committee, said that there is a whistleblower provision stating that any persons, otherwise guilty of vote-buying and vote-selling who voluntarily gives information and willingly testifies on any violation thereof in any official investigation or proceeding shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for the offenses with reference to which his or her information and testimony were given: Provided, further, That nothing herein shall exempt such person from criminal prosecution for perjury or false testimony.

On the other hand, under Section 37 of the resolution, any person who has personal knowledge of the commission of vote-buying and vote-selling may be admitted to the Witness Protection Program of the government, in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations on the matter. 

"There is really a need to reframe our policy against vote-buying and selling, recognizing that these acts are also symptomatic of broader historical, socio-economic problems," Maceda said.

Garcia added that it's not prohibited by law to file charges based on presumption. 

"Bahala na yung nademanda mag-defend sa sarili niya. Ang importante mafile-an namin siya ng kaso (It's up to the respondent to defend his or herself. What's important is that we can file cases against them)," the poll chief said.

Given that there are skeptics who think that Comelec is not serious about filing charges against violators, Garcia said that they are welcome to try. The poll chief also mentioned that it's not a good idea to think that the act of vote buying and vote selling is part of the culture. 

"Nakakatakot na maging parte ng kultura. Dapat bata pa lang itinuturo na hindi maganda at hindi tama ang pamimili at pagbebenta ng boto (It's alarming for it to be part of culture. Kids should be taught that vote selling adn vote buying are both not good and right)," he said.

Regarding the turnaround time of cases, Garcia said that they hope to resolve all cases before the BSKE. 

Meanwhile, in removing officials from their posts, the poll chief said that they even managed to remove governors and mayors from their posts.

The new committee streamlined the process of how citizens can report cases. It shall be assisted by the local committee in every region, province, city/ municipal, to be known as the Regional Committee on KontraBigay (RCKB), Provincial Committee on KontraBigay (PCKB) and City /Municipal Committee on KontraBigay (C/MCKB), respectively. 

Citizens may send their complaints along with other supporting evidence in person or through a registered mail, courier, or to the email address of the Comelec Law Department, Office of the Election Officer (OEO), or the  Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES).

Citizens may also call the Kontra Bigay Committee at (02)8559-9947 or (02)8567-4567 and email them at [email protected]. 

Related Tags

commissioner ernesto maceda BSKE 2023 Commission on Elections (Comelec) comelec chairman george erwin garcia Commission on Elections
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