ILOILO City – With just days before the May 12 midterm elections, Iloilo City has so far remained untouched by formal complaints of vote buying or vote selling, even as nearby municipalities face allegations of electoral misconduct.
According to Election Officer IV Atty. Pinky Tentativa of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Iloilo City, not a single formal complaint as of this writing has been filed with the Committee on Kontrabigay, the poll body’s national task force assigned to investigate vote-buying cases.
“We have not received any complaints from the City of Iloilo,” Tentativa confirmed, emphasizing the clean record as of yesterday and urging continued public vigilance against electoral fraud.
However, the same cannot be said for adjacent areas. The Comelec recently issued show cause orders to three candidates for Sangguniang Bayan in Dumangas, Iloilo after receiving complaints linking them to alleged vote-buying activities. These candidates are now under investigation and required to submit written explanations to the Commission.
The contrast between the city and its neighboring town underscores the importance of proactive enforcement and community awareness, Comelec officials said.
Vote buying and vote selling are serious election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code, punishable by disqualification from public office, imprisonment, and other legal consequences.
Tentativa reiterated the appeal to voters: “We continue to urge our communities to report any violations they witness. The integrity of our elections depends on active and honest participation.”/PN
