Comelec assures tighter watch vs. vote-buying through ‘Kontra Bigay’ committee

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday, Feb. 7, its Committee on “Kontra Bigay” to stop vote-buying and vote-selling with the approaching midterm elections.

Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said the poll body “fortified” the Committee on Kontra Bigay. It was a task force before becoming a standing committee during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

“We introduced stronger safeguards, clearer regulations, and stricter enforcement mechanisms. These will ensure that no candidate or party can subvert the will of the people, especially through the illicit use of state resources,” Maceda said.

Maceda said abuse of state resources is presumed with the following:

+ It is committed by an incumbent elected or govt employee

+ The offender has control or administration directly or indirectly over govt resources whether material human coercive, regulatory, budgetary, or media related

+ When the same is utilized for personal electoral gain the benefit of political party or a relative’s candidacy

Some of the activities falling under abuse of state resources are:

+ The use of government facilities and vehicles for campaign-related activity

+ The distribution of aid or subsidies with campaign materials or with candidates and their families

+ The use of government-funded media platforms to promote a candidate

+ The unjustified revocation or selective granting of government assistance during the election period

+ A sudden surge in hiring of job order or contract-based workers when engaged in partisan and political activity.

Maceda said the Comelec also imposed stricter prohibitions on the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds during the election period.

He said the poll body categorically prohibited the distribution of financial assistance programs such as Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program, Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program within the critical 10-day period before and on election day.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia also stressed that authorities can make a warrantless arrest presuming committing the acts of vote-buying, vote-selling, and abuse of state resources

“Dun kasi sa aksyon na habang nagbibigay ng pera, may kasama mga sample ballots, may kasama campaign materials, ‘yun pa lang, presumption, pwede nang pumasok ka agad ‘yon,” Garcia said.

“And therefore, kaya namin sinasabing presumption, pag kinasuhan namin ‘yung mismong tao na yun, mababaliktad, magkakaroon ng reverse sa presentation of evidence, he has to prove that there is no vote-buying involved,” he said.

[Translation: On the acts of giving money with sample ballots and campaign materials, we can already presume the illegal act. With the presumption, there will be a reversal in the presentation of evidence. The charged individual has to prove that there is no vote buying involved.]

The poll body chief also called on Filipinos to report supposed election offenses.

“Kahit picture lang ‘yan, kahit hindi niyo i-testify ng mga magpapadala sa amin, ‘yung Kontra Bigay committee namin, sila mismo ang nagpa-file ng case, motu proprio against the candidate, whether disqualification or election offense,” he said.

“Nu’ng barangay and SK [elections], 7,500 dyan, 253 ang hindi namin pinroklama dahil dyan,” he added.

[Translation: Even just a picture, and those who would forward reports would not testify, the Kontra Bigay committee will file the complaint motu proprio against the candidate, whether disqualification or election offense. During the barangay and SK elections, out of the 7,500 charged, 253 were not proclaimed.]

The Comelec recently released Resolution No. 11104 to expand the powers and functions of the “Kontra Bigay” committee.

The campaign period for national candidates will start on Feb. 11, while local bets can campaign starting March 28.