Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday that it is already finalizing its rules and regulations on the penalties for vote buying for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October, which will now cover online money transfers.
\”Doon sa mga panibagong pamamaraan ng vote buying, tulad ng by way of GCash or online banking, kasama po namin sa Committee on Kontra Bigay ay Anti-Money Laundering Council at Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas,”said Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. in a press briefing.
[Translation: When it comes to the new ways of vote buying, such as through GCash or online banking, the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas are part of the Committee on Kontra Bigay.]
\”Amin pong hinuhubog ang final version ng aming rules and regulations on kontra bigay. Kapag inilibas na namin ang rules, maisasama namin in whatever way ang ganyang pamamaraan.\”
[Translation: We are already polishing the final version of our rules and regulations on vote buying. Once we issue the rules, we will include such schemes.]
The Omnibus Election Code penalizes vote buying or selling with up to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and prohibition from exercising the right to vote.
Any political party found guilty of engaging in such acts shall pay a fine of not less than ₱10,000.
Update the law?
Moreover, the Comelec admitted that the Omnibus Election Code – which was approved in 1985 – does not cover modern schemes of bribing during elections.
\”Katulad ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, na we are working in implementing a 1985 law…Eh nung mga panahon po noon, wala pa namang GCash, nung mga panahon ‘yun mamimigay lang ng bigas eh,\” said Comelec chairperson George Garcia.
[Translation: Just like what I’ve been telling, we have been implementing a 1985 law…Back in the day, GCash was not yet available, and you just give voters rice.]
Although some netizens have been posting alleged incidents of vote buying or selling online, the poll body said that the current law does not recognize such posts as evidence to punish such acts.
\”Hindi ba namin pwedeng gamitin yung nasa social media? Sana nga kung bago nga lang yung batas, sana nga kung in-amend yung batas. Bakit? Eh kasi sa kasalukuyan yung ganung klase ng ebidensya, walang value,\” said Garcia.
[Translation: Can we not use the posts on social media? We are hoping to do so if the law is updated or amended. Why? Because those kinds of evidence have no value today.]
Garcia added that the Comelec is currently drafting the proposed revisions to the Omnibus Election Code.
The Comelec issued a resolution in 2013 allowing the public to conduct warrantless arrests against vote buyers and sellers. But the PNP had some apprehensions with regards to the policy.
\”Kinakailangan as much as possible, andiyan yung kapulisan […] Medyo kung wala kang uniform, medyo may possibility na may violent reactions,\” said PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda in a chance interview with reporters.
