BUYING votes by politicians and their minions is a traditional malady in Philippine elections, probably as old as the two-party system that we used to have.
Since the 1960s, courting votes consisted of small, unnoticed ways such as giving out food, T-shirts and fans. But these methods have turned obsolete as voters became more and more demanding and candidates were just too willing to use the gold in the traditional “guns, goons and gold” strategy of winning elections.
In the forthcoming May 12 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has admitted it is once again facing the challenges that the vote-buying tradition brings.
But this time, the poll body is ready with its own new ways of coping with the problem.
In fact, Comelec Commissioner Ernest Maceda, head of the Committee on Kontra Bigay, said the poll body will intensify its efforts against the evolving tactics of vote buying.
‘Let us see how the Comelec will arrest and prosecute vote buyers, and even disqualify candidates who engage in this shameful form of cheating.’
We have heard this before, for every election campaign that we have experienced saw some form of vote-buying schemes perpetrated by candidates who will stop at nothing to ensure victory.
Undaunted, Maceda said the Commission will stop the rise of a new form of purchasing votes, where candidates, especially those currently in office, use social services to influence voters.
Maceda recognized the current abuse of government assistance by many candidates and officials in the form of “ayuda” and assured the public that this violation will not escape the eyes and ears of the poll body.
Although the commission en banc earlier allowed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to distribute dole-outs to the poor during the election period, this policy had been qualified by the poll body.
Maceda stressed that the Comelec will prohibit the distribution of welfare aid within 10 days before election day. This means the giving out of Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), etc. will be temporarily halted on May 2, 2025.
It is reassuring to note that GCash, the leading e-wallet service provider, is cooperating with the Comelec by announcing a temporary limit on daily transactions, even for business users, to ensure transparency and prevent financial misuse during the election period.
Other leading private sector groups should follow the example of GCash in supporting the Comelec’s drive to stop vote buying.
The problem with the poll body, however, is that it has all the legal measures and tools to pin down offenders of election laws but their implementation is sorely lacking.
It is not enough for Commissioner Maceda to hope that the poll body’s new measures could prevent the use of “force, fraud and funds” in the coming elections. This should be followed by strong resolve and concrete action.
Let us see how the Comelec will arrest and prosecute vote buyers, and even disqualify candidates who engage in this shameful form of cheating.
