Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES
The Fee on Elections (Comelec) has empowered its Kontra Bigay Committee (KBC) to discourage and prosecute not solely those that purchase and promote their votes but additionally those that abuse state assets (ASR).
Comelec Decision No. 11104, promulgated on Jan. 28, outlined the offense of ASR as one which “pertains to the misuse of presidency assets, whether or not materials, human, coercive, regulatory, budgetary, media-related or legislative, for electoral benefit.”
ASR could also be dedicated by way of the intervention of public officers and staff, exertion of undue affect on or use of public funds throughout an election marketing campaign, and different prohibited acts underneath the Omnibus Election Code.
The decision additionally introduces a brand new provision that imposes a complete ban on the distribution of “ayuda” (help) a minimum of 10 days earlier than the elections.
Comelec Chair George Garcia on Friday led the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of settlement with officers from numerous authorities companies, the police, army, election watchdogs and cellular pockets firms that will probably be deputized as members of or to help “KBC 2.0.”
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“Allow us to make it tough for them to purchase votes,” he stated. Garcia inspired voters to refuse bribes from candidates, not vote for them and report them to the Comelec.
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‘Make it tough’
He stated it might be as much as the ballot physique to behave on the grievance and file the case.
The Comelec chief stated voters ought to be indignant at politicians who use state assets “prefer it’s their pocket cash” to purchase votes, particularly from the poor, or to distribute them to supporters.
The KBC, created by way of Comelec Decision No. 10946 and promulgated in August 2023, is at present underneath Commissioner in Cost Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr.
Decision 11104 granted the KBC the extra energy to direct and supervise synchronized operations towards vote-buying, vote-selling and ASR. The committee can also be approved to facilitate the submitting of election offenses and disqualification circumstances towards erring candidates, authorities staff and personal people.
Whole ban on ‘ayuda’
The brand new Comelec issuance principally reiterated prohibitions talked about in Decision 10946 regarding warrantless arrests of vote patrons and sellers, cash ban, and presumed acts of vote-buying and vote-selling.
A brand new provision, Part 33, imposes a complete ban on the distribution of presidency ayuda, or monetary help, by way of numerous packages recognized by acronyms Tupad, Akap, AICS and 4Ps 10 days earlier than Election Day and on Election Day, besides medical and burial support usually given to certified people.
Official monetary help distributed by candidates who’re incumbent officers or their spouses or members of their households inside the second civil diploma of affinity or consanguinity, or their recognized supporters or staff, throughout the interval of complete prohibition shall be presumed vote-buying and vote-selling, or ASR, because the case could also be, in response to the supply.
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The KBC includes greater than 20 Comelec executives, nationwide authorities companies, civic organizations and election stakeholders. There are additionally regional, provincial, metropolis and municipal committees.
