158 complaints of vote buying, selling reported
SEVENTEEN days into the May 12 midterm elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it has already received 158 complaints of early vote buying, vote selling, and abuse of state resources.
In a press briefing, Undersecretary Marlo Iringan reminded all candidates to strictly comply with all the provisions given by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
As to the cases of abuse of state resources, Asst. Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete cited Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, which imposes a ban on the release of public funds during the election period in response to issues where local government units have applied for (Comelec) exemptions for election spending.
“One of the provisions imposed by the Comelec is for them to conduct a periodic review of the way these funds were spent. Nais lang namin i-remind and local Comelec units na we were able to get an exemption sapagkat maaari itong i-revoke ng Comelec kung hindi sumunod and ating mga LGUs,” he said.
The DILG has also partnered with the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra-Bigay with regard to practices of vote buying, vote selling, and abuse of state resources. “Walang vote-buying kung walang vote-selling,” he stressed.
Although there have been these negative reports, the government, according to the DILG official, is nonetheless aiming for generally peaceful and credible elections.
Iringan said that from the police level down to the barangay tanods will have their hands full in securing a safe election day for each voter and candidate across the country.
On election day, barangay watchmen will be mobilized to help maintain the traffic flow, in order where they will also be tasked to escort voters to the school gates to cast their votes.
“Maliban sa pulis measures, i-mobilize natin ang mga tanod para tumulong, para orderly ang traffic sa eskwelahan kung saan boboto ang ating mga mamamayan,” Iringan stressed.
Daycares and health centers must also be made open to ensure that parents with their small children can vote.
The PNP, which is the lead agency in maintaining peace and orderliness during the election day, said it will be deploying at least 140,000 personnel to secure 388 areas of concern – 34 are classified as high risk or hot spots from a high of 36 during the last quarter of 2024.
