Voters urged to report cases of electoral fraud

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday appealed to the voters to report to proper authorities immediately any vote buying or vote selling activities in their communities.

“Kung may nakita tayo na kakaiba, ireport kaagad natin. Wag kayong mangimi sa pagrereport (of election irregularity) at para maaksyunan natin ora mismo (If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Do not hesitate to report so that authorities can act on it as soon as possible),” Año said in a radio interview.

Año said that starting May 8 until the actual election day on Monday, it is the duty of the deployed police officers to enforce the liquor ban and ensure that no all sorts of election campaign activity, like the distribution of political materials, is being done.

“Hindi mangingiling mag-aresto ang ating mga pulis kapagka may mga violators kaya winawarningan na natin ano, tapos na yung pangangampanya starting today (May 8) and at the same time din ano, yung mga mamimili ng boto talagang deretso o huhulihin talaga yan (The police will have no second thoughts of arresting violators that is why, we are warning you that the campaign period has ended starting today and at the same time those buying votes will be directly arrested),” he added.

Año has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to create Anti-Vote Buying Teams in each province and city to receive complaints and investigate allegations of vote-buying and vote-selling in compliance with election laws, rules, and regulations. /