Comelec logs 34 complaints of vote-buying, other illegal acts

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has so far received 34 reports of alleged vote-buying and other illegal acts ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.

These include 23 reports of vote-buying and vote-selling and 11 reports of abuse of state resources, Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing Tuesday.

READ: Comelec vows to fight digital buying of votes

“We started getting reports even before the start of the election period,” Maceda said.

“Most probably, for 2025, we will still see NCR (National Capital Region) as having the most reports (of vote-buying),” he added.

Maceda, head of the Comelec-Committee on Kontra Bigay cited the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) where they recorded more vote-buying cases in Metro Manila.

“I don’t know if that’s because there are more vote-buying incidents happening here or because the citizens are just more aware of their rights here,” he added.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote-buying is an act, wherein a person gives, offers, or promises money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate.

In the 2022 national elections, the poll body logged 1,226 complaints of vote-buying.

Meanwhile, it has logged 375 complaints in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.