It’s ‘quite hard to trace’ money foreigners give to poll bets – Comelec

A precinct community leader asks her stepson to remove the campaign posters of a candidate in Quezon City, leading to an argument with a supporter of the rival camp.

MANILA, Philippines — Candidates receiving aid from foreign entities are bound to be disqualified, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

At the Senate panel on maritime and admiralty zones’ hearing on Monday, Sen. JV Ejercito asked if the country, at present, has a basis to disqualify election candidates who are being funded by foreigners.

This question came days after National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told reporters in April that they have identified candidates for the May 2025 polls who are being backed by China.

At the end of Ejercito’s prodding was Comelec Chairperson George Garcia who confirmed that receiving aid from foreigners is a ground to disqualify candidates.

“Tama po. Pwede pong ma-disqualify kasi isa po sa grounds ng disqualification ay kapag tumatanggap ang isang kandidato o political party ng tulong pinansyal o kahit anumang klaseng tulong mula sa isang foreign entity, foreign citizen, o isang foreign national,” said Garcia.

(That’s right. That is a ground for disqualification. If a candidate or a political party is receiving financial aid or any type of help from foreign entities, foreign citizens or foreign national, they may be disqualified.)

This is why Statement of Contributions and Expenditure is being submitted, he explained.

“So sana po ang sabi namin, when it comes to Anti-Money Laundering — maipatupad natin nang maayos at makita namin ang flow ng pera,” Garcia told lawmakers.

(So that’s why we are saying, when it comes to Anti-Money Laundering — we hope it can be implemented well so that we can see the flow of money.)

“Ang problema po kasi, kapag ang pondo o pera ay nanggaling na sa mga negosyante o mga negosyo na nandito na sa Pilipinas. Napakahirap po nating ma-trace yan.” he disclosed.

(The problem is when the funds come from businessmen or businesses that are already here in the Philippines. That is quite hard for us to trace.)

“But that is a ground to disqualify a candidate for receiving support of whatever form galing sa labas — kahit nga po sa former Filipino citizen,” he maintained.

(But that is a ground to disqualify a candidate for receiving support of whatever form from foreign entities — even from a foreign Filipino citizen.)

Later into the hearing, panel head Sen. Francis Tolentino asked Malaya if they have a list of candidates being funded by foreign entities.

But contrary to his previous remark, Malaya now insisted that the investigation regarding the matter is still ongoing.

“Your agency is aware that foreign funding is being channeled towards certain candidates favored by other countries?” asked Tolentino.

“We’re looking into it, as I’ve said, investigation is still being conducted by the various agencies,” said Malaya.