Comelec stops 253 barangay execs from taking office over vote-buying

FILE PHOTO: Commission on Election Chairperson George Garcia gives his statement denying allegations against the poll body’s deal with Miru Systems during a press conference on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. – The Comelec prevented 253 barangay officials from assuming their posts despite winning due to vote-buying charges. INQUIRER / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) prevented 253 barangay officials from assuming their posts despite winning due to vote-buying charges.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday that these village executives are among the approximately 1,000 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials charged for buying votes in the previous election.

The line of succession will be followed once village officials are stopped from assuming their positions.

“This is a lesson for all candidates: Don’t underestimate the commission because we could stop your proclamation,” Garcia said in a forum in Manila.

READ: Vote-buying loopholes

According to the Comelec chief, there was even a case where the entire roster of barangay officials who won the polls was not allowed to take office – that the town mayor had to appoint officers to take oversee the village.

Garcia, however, admitted that none of the approximately 1,000 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials charged for vote-buying have been convicted to date.

He noted that, in fact, none were convicted over vote-buying under his leadership at Comelec and even during the previous administrations.

READ: EXPLAINER: Vote-buying, selling

“It’s very hard to convict over vote-buying because we need evidence that will establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” the Comelec head explained.

Garcia further lamented that most of the vote-buying evidence are weak and incomplete and that the majority of petitioners withdrew their cases.

He likewise noted that the Omnibus Election Code provides that vote-sellers are just as liable to criminal offense in vote-buying cases. But, Garcia pointed out, the poll body can exempt vote-sellers from charges.

“Even if we give them (vote-sellers) immunity, they still back out,” Garcia regretted.