THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to implement “money” and “ayuda” bans ahead of the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to minimize opportunities for vote buying and vote selling.
Speaking at the BSKE 2023 briefing and command conference held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Comelec – Committee on Kontra-Bigay (CKB) secretary Glinis Tamondong said the “money ban” will be reimposed five days before and on Election Day.
“It will be prohibited to possess, transport, and/or carry cash exceeding P500,000.00 or its equivalent in any foreign currency,” said Tamondong.
“All Comelec checkpoints all over the Philippines are directed to conduct a 24-hour money ban checkpoint, in addition to the gun ban checkpoint, for the duration of the period herein stated,” she added.
The Comelec, however, said there will be exemptions to the money ban, particularly persons who, by nature of their duty, profession, business, or occupation as cashiers or disbursing officers, transport or carry cash exceeding P500,000.00 or its equivalent in any foreign currency.
Tamondong said the exemption will apply to individuals who are carrying the money while actually performing their duties, such as the transport of money or disbursement of payrolls. They will be required to present a Certificate of Employment stating that he/she is currently employed as cashier or disbursing officer, and their company or office-issued identification card showing his/her photograph, designation, and signature.
The Comelec imposed a money ban during the 2013 polls when it prohibited the withdrawal of cash or encashment of checks worth more than P100,000 as well as the transport or possession of cash exceeding P500,000 in the days leading to Election Day.
But the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order (SQAO) against the money ban after the poll body received massive criticisms and opposition.
Aside from the money ban, the poll body said it will also implement a ban on giving “ayuda” or financial assistance from the start of the campaign period on October 19 until Election Day on October 30.
“There is a provision on the total ban on the distribution of ayuda and other assistance. It is prohibited to give, distribute, and receive any assistance or ayuda,” said Tamondong, adding:
“If you are distributing ayuda, then we will presume that you are conducting vote buying (activities).”
The poll official, however, stressed that aids that are normally given to qualified individuals will be exempted from the prohibition. Such assistance includes provision of basic needs in the form of food, transportation, medical, education, and burial, among others.
The Comelec has also said the release and expenditure of public funds for relief or other goods to be distributed to affected individuals and/or families in cases of calamities or disasters are exempted from the election ban.
Tamondong said several activities are now also presumed by the Commission as vote buying, including the possession or delivery of any coins, notes, monies, cards, pay envelopes, bags, groceries, tokens, or anything of value, together with sample ballots or other campaign materials in favor of or against a candidate.
Also presumed as engaging in vote buying are having long lines or queues of registered voters/persons for the distribution of insurance or health cards, grocery items, and such other goods, intended to be used to induce persons to vote for or against any candidate or withhold their votes in the election.
The Comelec said house-to-house election campaign that involves the giving of money, discount cards, grocery items, and such other goods to induce the household or occupants to vote for or against any candidate is also presumed as vote buying, as well as the holding of bingo games, talent shows, or other similar activities that involves the distribution of prizes by the candidates or their supporters or by any person in which the names of the candidates are mentioned, or the pictures of the candidates are visible.
Also considered as vote buying are those employing the “hakot” system or the gathering of two or more registered voters to a specific place before Election Day and on Election Day, for the purpose of distributing money or anything of value and/or sample filled-out ballots.
The Comelec said causing the split of the amount of at least P20,000 to smaller denominations of P100, P50, or P20 during five days before Election Day and on Election Day, except when necessary to or in connection with the occupation or business of the possessor, is also presumed as vote buying.
Also considered as vote buying are the conduct of medical missions, legal aid services, feeding programs, or any caravan offering any or all of these services in a certain barangay or locality, in which the names of the candidates are mentioned, or those conducted in a place where the name or picture of a candidate is visible or displayed; the hiring or appointing of more than two watchers per precinct per candidate who shall serve alternately; possessing on Election Day of indelible ink or any chemical that may remove indelible ink such as acetone, nail polish remover, or paint thinner, except when necessary to the occupation of the possessor; and the possession of blank original ballots during Election Day, except those authorized by the Commission.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the updated guidelines on vote buying is in implementation of rules set in the Omnibus Election Code on the prohibition of vote buying.
“In Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, there are no presumptions provided. But the Comelec is not prohibited from coming up with implementing rules and regulations. We placed some presumptions that, although they are not in the law, the Comelec is not prohibited from implementing them,” he said.
“We are presuming you to be involved in vote buying. It is only a presumption. You can still defend yourself in court. At least, we can issue a warrant of arrest against you,” he added.
Garcia guaranteed that they will not allow the guidelines and presumptions of vote buying to be abused by authorities.
Meanwhile, on the heels of its decision to administratively transfer the 10 disputed barangays from Makati City to Taguig City, the Comelec on Tuesday appealed to all parties involved in the territorial dispute to work together for the successful conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30.
Garcia said: “For the sake of democracy and the country, we hope that we will be provided all the help we will need so that we can successfully hold the elections.”
He issued the call after the Comelec en banc decided to consider the 10 disputed barangays as part of Taguig City for purposes of the forthcoming electoral exercises.
The Comelec’s decision is in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling that the 10 barangays in the second district of Makati City are actually under the jurisdiction of the Taguig City.
The 10 affected barangays are namely Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside, and Southside.
The Taguig City government said scholarship programs under its Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-Need program are now open to students from the EMBO barangays.
“Taguig’s scholarship program is not limited to the upper 10 percent of the graduating class but is open to all, and regardless of year level. It is even open to those reviewing for licensure examinations and taking post-graduate studies,” Mayor Lani Cayetano said, adding that students who wish to apply for scholarship should visit the Taguig Scholarship Office located at the Senator Renato Cayetano Science and Technology Memorial Science High School in Ususan Taguig.
The city government, she added, is also set to open a satellite scholarship desk at the ninth floor of the SM Aura Tower in Bonifacio Global City.
“Applicants need not worry about city residency or voter requirements, as Taguig recognizes the residency and registration in EMBO barangays as valid and sufficient compliance,” Cayetano said, adding the city government is committed to extending the same comprehensive set of services the EMBO residents have been receiving from Makati.
Under the scholarship program, high school graduates with or without honors can avail and receive P15,000 to P50,000 per year in financial assistance while those who will be studying in colleges and universities, or will be taking priority courses as identified by the Department of Science and Technology can receive P40,000 to P50,000 yearly.
Meanwhile, those who will pursue technical and vocational courses can receive financial assistance worth P15,000 a year.
Cayetano said those who are reviewing for board and Bar exams may receive a one-time assistance of P15,000 to P20,000, plus an additional P50,000 if they land in the top 10 of the examinations.
Cayetano said public and private school teachers in the city as well as barangay, city and national government employees, including uniformed personnel based in Taguig, taking up their masteral and doctoral degrees may avail of P18,000 to P60,000 financial assistance per year depending on the school where they are enrolled.
There is also a P50,000 thesis and dissertation grant, which has so far benefited some 2,000 graduates with almost 500 of them successfully earning their degrees.
On Tuesday, the city government started its distribution of school packages to students studying in public schools under its jurisdiction, including those from the EMBO barangays.
The package included a bag, daily and PE uniforms, socks, black shoes, rubber shoes, and a complete set of basic school supplies.
Daycare and kindergarten students will receive additional items such as emergency contact cards, and health kits containing a bag, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand towel and alcohol spray. — With Ashzel Hachero
