THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is investigating a congressional candidate in Quezon City for vote buying after allegedly distributing prepaid cards that holders can use to purchase items in accredited stores.
Comelec chairman George Garcia refused to identify the candidate, but said that he/she supposedly distributed prepaid cards loaded with P2,000 electronic cash.
“The candidate didn’t distribute cash. But (distributing) this card can still be considered as vote buying,” Garcia said in an interview.
“There is always a new way or an innovation on how to buy votes every elections,” he also said.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying are acts wherein a person gives, offers, or promises money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate.
It is considered as an election offense, which carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office, and removal of the right of suffrage.
Citing data from the Comelec – Committee on Kontra Bigay, Garcia said 120 candidates have been issued show cause orders for alleged acts of vote buying or abuse of state resources.
“There are also disqualification cases that have already been filed,” he added.
