ILOILO – As the May 12 midterm elections draw closer, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo is grappling with digital vote-buying — a fast-evolving challenge that threatens the integrity of the electoral process.
According to Atty. Reinier Layson, provincial election supervisor of Comelec-Iloilo, traditional cash hand-outs are increasingly being replaced by online fund transfers using mobile wallets and banking apps, making detection and prosecution more difficult for election watchdogs and law enforcement agencies.
“If elections have become modernized through automated counting and electronic transmission of results, vote-buying has also gone digital,” Layson said. “Now, money is exchanged electronically — something extremely difficult to trace or prove.”
Despite the sophistication of this illegal tactic, Layson said the Comelec remains determined to combat vote-buying and vote-selling through the reactivation of its Committee on Kontra Bigay. This body investigates complaints and encourages citizens to formally report such incidents with supporting evidence.
“So far, we haven’t received any formal complaints on vote-buying in Iloilo, but we expect reports to come in as election day nears,” Layson noted.
Most current complaints received involve campaign violations or dirty tactics among candidates. But Layson said Comelec’s efforts would be futile without cooperation from the public.
“We urge voters — who are usually on the receiving end — to come forward. They hold the key to testimonies that can push cases forward.”
To strengthen surveillance, the Comelec has also partnered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other technology-related government agencies. Still, privacy protections on financial transactions remain a barrier to tracking illicit transfers.
Layson explained that often, tip-offs about vote-buying arrive too late.
“By the time our personnel or the police arrive, the actual exchange of money is no longer happening, making it hard to act on mere reports without evidence,” he said.
Comelec Resolution No. 11104 lays down a wide scope of what constitutes vote-buying and vote-selling, including:
* Direct or indirect transfer of money or goods in exchange for votes
* Digital transactions via online banking or e-wallets
* Distribution of groceries, discount cards, and health cards
* House-to-house campaigns involving giveaways
* Bingo games and events where candidates’ names are promoted
* Suspicious possession of large amounts of cash or campaign materials before or on election day
* Conducting medical missions or giving “ayuda” with political branding
* Hiring excessive poll watchers and tampering with election materials
These offenses undermine democracy, Layson warned.
He emphasized that no matter how advanced vote-buying methods become, voter empowerment remains the most potent weapon./PN
