Comelec to bets: Monitor rivals, report violations

MANILA---Com mission on Elec tions (Comelec) commissioner George Garcia urged candidates on Monday, March 28, 2022, to be vigilant against unlawful campaign activities of their rivals and immediately report to them such incidents for investigation.

“Sa magkakalaban, maganda po magmonitoran kayo. Kayo mismo titingin, papansin sa mga kalaban nyo sa posisyon at isumbong n’yo sa amin at yan po ay aaksyunan namin,” Garcia said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(To rivals, it is better that you monitor yourselves. You monitor unlawful campaign activities of your rivals and report them to us for appropriate actions.)

He reminded the candidates to police their staff to follow election rules and make them aware of the do’s and don’t’s amid the campaign period.

Garcia also urged the public to report any unlawful election-related activities in their areas.

“Tayo pong mga mamamayan, nakita n’yo ang mga kandidato n’yo na hindi sumusunod sa batas, isipin n’yo kumakandidato pa lang hindi na sumusunod sa batas, sa patakaran ng Comelec. Pag nanalo yan, maaaring ‘yung iba jan sila pang gagawa ng batas, sila magpapatupad ng batas. Paano ninyo aasahan na magpapatupad ng batas ‘yung mga violator?” he said.

(We the public should think that those not following the rules are not yet elected. How can they implement rules when they themselves are not following the rules?)

Garcia said the Comelec will constitute the multi-agency task force against vote buying on Wednesday, March 30, which will look into reports of illegal distribution of cash in exchange of getting a person’s vote.

He said the task force will be composed of representatives from the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Garcia said the task force may act on any vote buying reports even without formal complaint.

He said the task force will also monitor the cyberspace, especially social media platforms, where some candidates blatantly conduct activities in violation of the election rules, such as the conduct of raffles and other activities to please their constituent s.

Garcia said they are also aware that digital money transfer platforms are now being used for vote buying.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the opening of the campaign period for local candidates has been generally peaceful, noting that there has been maintenance of minimum public health standards set by the National Government amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“If may violation man, hindi ganoon kasakit sa ulo,” he said.

He reminded candidates, both local and national, that while securing campaign committee permits before the Comelec is no longer necessary, they still have to get permits from the local government units for their campaign activities. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/ SunStar Philippines)