Poll watchdog opposes plan to ban all ‘ayuda’ 10 days before polls

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A poll watchdog on Tuesday opposed the proposal of a committee of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prohibit all kinds of ayuda or aid 10 days before elections.

Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya, said that this ban, while well-meaning, could even lead to more “underhanded” vote buying from “trapos” or traditional politicians.

“We therefore oppose any ayuda ban,” Arao told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

“The basic problem here is that family and personal financial crises cannot have 10-day reprieves,” Arao said. “It is even possible that trapos will seize such opportunities to engage in even more underhanded vote-buying.”

The expanded ban on ayuda within the said period was proposed by the Kontra Bigay committee headed by Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr.

On Tuesday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said the proposal would be tackled before the Comelec en banc on its regular Wednesday session.

READ: Ban on ‘ayuda’ distribution 10 days before polls eyed

At present, the Comelec only prohibits the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (Aics) 10 days before polls.

Arao said this ban should no longer be expanded and the Comelec should instead bolster its monitoring mechanisms.

“Other forms of financial assistance should not be covered by the ban,” Arao said.

“Instead, we recommend that the Comelec strictly monitor compliance with the apolitical nature of financial and other assistance that the people need during the election season,” he added.