UMABOT na ngayon sa sampung mga posibleng kaso ng vote-buying ang sinisiyasat ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) kaugnay ng May 9 national at local elections.
Ang nasabing bilang ang sinala mula sa napakarami umanong ulat at reklamo ng vote-buying na ipinarating sa pamamagitan ng official email address at social media pages ng Comelec.
Ayon kay Comelec Task Force Kontra Bigay head Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, uungkatin na nila ang alegasyong vote-buying at vote-selling incidents.
“Pursuant to its moto proprio powers, the COMELEC, through the Task Force Kontra Bigay, has created a team dedicated to investigate possible vote-buying and vote-selling cases committed during the 2022 National and Local Elections and to file the same even without a citizen complaint,” ayon sa pahayag ng Task Force Kontra Bigay.
“As of today, We have ten (10) active cases and counting as we are continually receiving numerous reports and complaints of vote-buying in our official email address and Facebook page,” dagdag sa pahayag na ipinalabas ng Sabado ng umaga.
Sinabi pa ng Comelec na mayroong isang posibleng kaso ng vote-buying ang maaaring umusad na sa pakikipagtulungan nito sa Integrated Bar of the Philippines at Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE).
“We are also pleased to announce that with the cooperation of the IBP and LENTE, we have one possible case for vote-buying as the complainant has already executed an affidavit and submitted pieces of evidence,” ayon pa sa Task Force.
Muling hinimok ng Task Force Kontra Bigay ang publiko na hindi lamang pagsusumbong kundi aktibong pakikilahok sa proseso ng imbestigasyon tulad ng pagsusumite ng affidavit at mga ebidensya para mapanagot ang mga nasasangkot sa vote buying.
Maaari umanong maghain ng reklamo ng vote-buying at vote-selling sa Office of the Election Officer at Department of Justice sa pamamagitan ng National Prosecution Service. Puwede ring magpatulong sa PNP, IBP, Lente, at Task Force Kontra Bigay para sa paghahanda ng reklamo.
Kasabay nito ang muling babala ng task force sa mga kandidato na masasangkot sa vote-buying.
“Please be advised that any candidate who, in an action or protest in which he is a party is declared by final decision of a competent court guilty of, or found by the Commission of having given money or other material consideration to influence, induce or corrupt the voters or public officials performing electoral functions shall be disqualified from continuing as a candidate, or if he has been elected, from holding office,” diin ng task force. Jeff Gallos