HEADING into the final month of the campaign period, more incidents of vote buying and abuse of state resources (ASR) are being reported to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying are acts where 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.
On the other hand, ASR refers to the misuse of government resources, whether material, human, coercive, regulatory, budgetary, media-related, or legislative, for electoral advantage.
In a press conference, Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said the number of ASR has caught up with incidents of vote buying.
“We have received a total of 63 reports. The bulk of reports are on vote buying, but the ASR reports are catching up,” said Maceda, who heads the poll body’s Committee on Kontra Bigay.
Data shows 36 cases of vote buying, and 32 ASR incidents have been reported to the Comelec.
Previously, the number of vote buying cases was at 23, and ASR incidents was at 11.
Maceda said most of the reports came from the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
The numbers, he said, still exclude reports that have been referred to their field offices for case buildup or further investigation.
“If we feel the reports are insufficient, we refer them to the regional Kontra Bigay. When they are returned to us, that is when we decide if we will file a disqualification case or an election offense,” he said.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are hoping that incidents monitored on social media will also be reported to the Committee on Kontra Bigay.
Maceda said the reported incidents of vote buying include one senatorial candidate and three party-list groups. He refused to identify them.
“The bulk are really local (candidates),” he added.
Maceda said most of the vote buying incidents involve money, rice, goods and groceries, and social assistance programs.
Garcia reminded candidates and incumbent government officials the limitations on the use of government properties, especially in the barangays.
“Barangay officials are allowed to campaign but they cannot use the barangay halls and other barangay properties in campaigning,” he said.
Maceda said most of the ASR incidents reported involve the use of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD); use of government facilities; and use of influence to coerce voters.
