COMELEC releases task force against vote-buying incidents days before campaign ends

Written by Allen Limos

Published May 12, 2022

Photo Credit: Task force Kontra Bigay Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — On March 22, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released a statement that will create a separate task force handling vote-buying matters. A few days before the campaign period officially ends, on April 29, the COMELEC launched the Facebook page Task force Kontra Bigay (anti-vote-buying).

Article 22 Sec. 261 of the COMELEC code or the Prohibited Acts of the Omnibus Election Code listed vote-buying and vote-selling, or any similar act, as prohibited. People who are caught may be prosecuted for one to six years and will face “disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.”

COMELEC’s campaign against vote-buying and vote-selling. (Photo Credit: Task Force Contra Bigay Facebook)

MovePH, the civic engagement arm of Rappler, also launched #PHVoteWatch to monitor reports of vote-buying incidents and other election irregularities for local communities.

Reporters need to fill out a form and provide needed information such as contact details and proof of incident.

When submitted, the form will then be verified and reported directly to COMELEC and other election watchdog agencies.

With this new task force, people can now conveniently report vote-buying incidents directly to COMELEC via Facebook.