Comelec says measures in place vs vote buying

Workers test and seal ballots at the National Printing Office, North Diliman, Quezon City on January 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Commission on Elections has received 34 complaints in connection with the May polls, an official reported Tuesday.

Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda said that of the total number, 23 complaints were related to vote-buying and vote-selling, while 11 concerned alleged abuse of state resources.

“Bago pa man nag-umpisa ang election period, mayroon nang mga nagreklamo nito, kung natatandaan ninyo, naging viral iyong pagra-raffle ng sasakyan,” Maceda said in a televised briefing.

“At mayroon din bago pa man nag-umpisa ang campaign period nitong local, sinusumbong na nila na nagkakabigayan ng pera pagdating sa miting de avance,” he added. 

Maceda said the Comelec was closely monitoring vote buying activities, particularly in Metro Manila and Calabarzon. 

“But from the province let’s just do top five: Palawan, Abra, Camarines Sur. Maaaring ngayon ho sa 2025 current reports, dito pa rin sa NCR ang pinakamarami,” the official said.

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The official assured the public that the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay was addressing vote buying in the 2025 midterm polls. 

The Comelec also strengthened partnerships with private financial institutions and other government agencies to monitor suspicious transactions in connection with the polls, Maceda said.

“GCash and Maya, they have been partnering with us since 2023 BSKE. And those who are really concentrating or focusing on this, alam nila na naglabas ang GCash ng advisory na maglalagay sila ng transaction limits. So, malaking bagay ito, dahil isa ito sa mga bagong pamamaraan ng pagbili ng boto,” the official said. 

“We would like to thank the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas kasi naglabas sila ng memorandum circular, reminding these financial institution and banks as well, na maging mas matatag… strengthen their efforts against fraud when it comes to onboarding, when it comes to the security of their procedures. So, sinisiguro po nila na hindi nagagamit ang kanilang mga facilities sa bagong pamamaraan na ito,” he said.

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Comelec received 1,226 complaints in the 2022 national elections and 375 complaints during the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

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