Marilyn Cahatol

May kalakip na P1,000 ang mga sample ballot na nakumpiska ng awtoridad sa grupo.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:604px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746952286629money.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">May kalakip na P1,000 ang mga sample ballot na nakumpiska ng awtoridad sa grupo. </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A surge in incidents of alleged vote-buying and election-related violence ahead of the national and local elections has alarmed the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).</p><p>Through its initiative International Observer Mission (IOM), the rights group has monitored the situation in key election hotspots all over the Philippines since the beginning of the campaign period on February 11.</p><p>“The red-tagging of candidates, widespread vote-buying, and political killings are serious violations that threaten the integrity of the electoral process and the safety of our communities,” said Commissioner Moore, Director of Peace with Justice at the General Board of Church and Society, the social justice agency of the United Methodist Church.</p><p>IOM has independently recorded 176 incidents of vote-buying since the campaign period began, ranging from P150 to P5,000. This is 18 cases higher than the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) record.</p><p>It said most of the cases were related to political dynasties, and spread in rural and high-poverty areas.</p><p>Over the past three months, Comelec has issued show cause orders to several candidates in national and local races to explain their alleged vote-buying practices and abuse of state resources.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/24/comelec-questions-20-more-candidates-over-vote-buying-allegations-2123">Comelec questions 20 more candidates over vote-buying allegations</a></div><p>Anyone found guilty of vote-buying and vote-selling faces one to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from holding public office, and deprivation of their rights to vote, based on the Omnibus Election Code.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/11/where-and-how-to-report-vote-buying-fake-news-and-poll-violations-1428">Where and how to report vote-buying, &#x27;fake news,&#x27; and election violations</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>577 RED-TAGGING CASES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The IOM, alongside the alliance Vote Report PH, also recorded 577 cases of alleged red-tagging, targeting progressive candidates, party-lists, workers, and even the Comelec itself.</p><p>Observers found materials such as flyers, leaflets and posters that linked campaign staff, local organizers, and supporters to communist groups.</p><p>“This level of systematic red-tagging is not only a violation of human rights, it’s a coordinated effort to intimidate and discredit democratic actors,” said Moore. “It’s an attack on the very idea of free and fair elections.”</p><p>Vote Report PH&#x27;s independent report showed that it received a total of 1,348 online reports of campaign violations, 99 percent of which were incidents of alleged red-tagging.</p><p>Poll watchdog Kontra Daya has condemned election-related cases of red-tagging.</p><p>“We call on the Comelec to immediately take action against cases of red-tagging. Not only does it violate Comelec Resolution No. 11116, this also endangers the lives of the victims,” said Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/poll-watchdog-bats-for-stricter-implementation-of-a-comelec-resolution-amid-red-tagging-1415">Poll watchdog bats for stricter implementation of a Comelec resolution amid red-tagging</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>62 CASES OF ELECTION-RELATED VIOLENCE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Aside from red-tagging, IOM also noted that the Philippine authority recorded 62 cases of election-related violence, 35 of which were politically motivated.</p><p>The mission&#x27;s observers saw alarming trends of armed intimidation and killings in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Bangsamoro, and Calabarzon.</p><p>Comelec chair George Garcia, meanwhile, said in an interview on April 30 that the number of election-related violence this year was lower than in the previous election years due to the &quot;intensified efforts of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/30/comelec-says-election-related-violence-remains-low-ahead-of-2025-polls-1517">Comelec says election-related violence remains low ahead of 2025 polls</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hNbCFxGt-SQ?si=H-Pr5ex0r39GOZR8" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>A surge in incidents of alleged vote-buying and election-related violence ahead of the national and local elections has alarmed the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).</p>

A surge in incidents of alleged vote-buying and election-related violence ahead of the national and local elections has alarmed the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).

Surge of vote-buying, election-related violence alarming – rights group

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Surge of vote-buying, election-related violence alarming – rights group

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 11, 2025 04:46 PM PHT

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IOM

ICHRP

Vote-buying

Election-related violence

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