ILOILO – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) admitted that vote-buying remains a significant challenge, particularly due to the discreet nature of these activities.
“By the time we arrive at reported areas, those involved in vote-buying have already fled,” said Atty. Reinier Layson, Iloilo provincial election supervisor.
During the Peace Covenant Signing on February 5, Comelec and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) acknowledged the complexity of addressing the illegal practice, citing various uncontrollable factors.
Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, the IPPO director, pointed out the evolving nature of vote-buying methods, especially with the rise of online money transfer services such as GCash and PayMaya.
“Vote-buying is no longer done through traditional cash handouts. Now, transactions are often done digitally, making it harder for law enforcement to track,” Razalan explained.
Layson nevertheless highlighted efforts in previous elections to curb vote-buying, including the formation of the “Committee Kontra Bigay” with support from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Justice, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. He expressed the goal of strengthening this committee and implementing more effective measures.
For his part, Razalan called on the public to report any vote-buying incidents to either the PNP or Comelec, emphasizing the importance of vigilance as both agencies intensify their monitoring and enforcement efforts during the election period./PN
