HONEST POLLS. Key election and security agency officials in Eastern Visayas lead the launch of the Committee on Kontra Bigay in Eastern Visayas on Monday (Oct. 16, 2023) at the police regional office in Palo, Leyte. The police and military in Eastern Visayas have vowed to enforce anti-vote buying and selling in the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections through a campaign led by the Commission on Elections. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY – The police and military in Eastern Visayas have vowed an intensified operations against buying and selling of votes in the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Officials of the police and the military made their commitment following the launch on Monday of the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB or Committee Against Giving) in Eastern Visayas region, the anti-vote buying and selling campaign of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy regional director for operations, Col. Salvador Alacyang, said the police is ready to counter all unlawful practices during the election period.
“All checkpoints will check possible violations. Our police stations are open for the lodging of complaints and we will also conduct police operations to fight vote buying and vote selling,” Alacyang said.
A total of 8,298 police personnel will be deployed in time for the elections, with 2,101 troopers from the Philippine Army and 158 from the Philippine Coast Guard as augmentation. There are also 680 reactionary standby support forces from the PNP.
Army 8th Infantry Division assistant commander Brig. Gen. Perfecto Peñaredondo, meanwhile, said the military would help raise public awareness about vote buying, especially in remote communities.
“Along with information dissemination, we will support the enforcement of Kontra Bigay towards changing our culture,” Peñaredondo added.
PCG Eastern Visayas commander Capt. Neftali Castillo, for his part, said they will heighten their watch in coastal communities and ports to deter the transport of large amounts of cash from the mainland to island villages.
Comelec Resolution No. 10946 that formed the CKB also established the Kontra-Bigay Complaint Center, which is operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 28 and will be on 24-hour operations from Oct. 29 to 31.
Comelec Eastern Visayas acting regional director Felicisimo Embalsado said they are simplifying the process of dealing with vote buying cases.
“As we have observed in the past, vote buying is common and accepted. Our chairman wants to stop this starting this year’s BSKE. We will let them see what we can do,” he said.
Acts presumed to be vote-buying and vote-selling include possessing or delivery of any coins, notes, monies, cards, pay envelopes, bags, groceries, tokens or anything of value, together with sample ballot or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate.
It includes offering or promising something of value in consideration for someone’s vote. Also considered is the giving of money through digital or online banking transactions or any other mobile wallet application.
From Oct. 28-30, authorities will enforce the “money ban”, which prohibits the possession, transport and carrying of cash exceeding PHP500,000.
Exempted are cashiers of companies with certificates of employment or identification cards.
“The Comelec is serious on this. If no one will complain, Comelec will file charges motu proprio, or on its own,” Embalsado added.
Earlier, authorities identified at least 232 villages in Eastern Visayas as areas of concern for the upcoming BSKE, prompting authorities to heighten their watch in these areas. (PNA)
