Comelec – Cordillera warns candidates against vote buying, vote selling

Baguio City, Cordillera – The Commission on Election in Cordillera region issued a stern warning against candidates and voters engaging in vote buying and vote selling as the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) officially begins today, October 19.

Among the activities presumed to be vote buying or vote selling, according to the poll body, include delivery of pay envelopes, bags, groceries, tokens, or anything of value, together with sample ballots or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate.

Having long queues of registered voters for the distribution of money, discounts, insurance or health cards, grocery items, and other goods intended to induce the persons to vote for or against any candidate is likewise considered vote buying.

Ayuda ban will also be implemented on the day before the elections and on election day.

Those found guilty will face warrantless arrest and shall be criminally charged for election offenses. The person will further be denied the right to vote and prohibited from holding public office.

Campaign against digital vote buying

Regional Director of Comelec – Cordillera Julius Torres said they also stepped up their campaign against digital vote buying, a prevalent scheme during the 2022 national and local elections.

He said that operators of electronic wallets who allow their applications to be used for vote buying shall be charged with “conspiracy to commit vote buying.”

The commission is confident that with the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) which established KontraBigay Complaint Center, vote-buying incidents will be reported by any citizen who will witness such an “insult to the essence of democratic exercise.”

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME

OTHER NEWS 

Aguinaldo cited for having functional peace and order council

Follow Guru Press Cordillera  on Facebook for more News and Information