Commission on Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin is appealing to the public to report vote buying practices.
Martin said the Comelec needs pertinent information in order to investigate and proceed, “There needs to be someone to report, because if there is no report, there is nothing to investigate. Paano natin ma establish ang vote buying if di natin gagamitin na witness ang tao na nag benta ng kanyang boto.”
Allegations of buying hound party list group KM Ngayon Na Partylist last month as Camdas folk report group representatives giving out P200 for each resident registering for an ID membership card.
However, Martin said there are no reports of vote buying nor complaints filed in the commission.
The Comelec earlier launched the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB), to fortify efforts against vote buying and selling by partnering with the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Martin said “No reports does not mean there is no vote buying. Vote buying is giving something of value that will induce someone into voting you or any candidate you support.”
Vote buying can be a grey area in election campaigning as there are goodwill practices which include the giving of food or the customary butchering of the pig to be shared in the community
The Omnibus Election Code lists this a prohibited act and election offense. Maria Elena Catajan
