The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Tuesday that they would form a task force to investigate reports of vote buying.
According to Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, they are receiving many reports of vote-buying during the campaign period.
Therefore, the commission will form a task force with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of Justice.
“Magke-create ang commission ng task force para sa lahat ng ganiyang reports, complaints,” said Garcia.
But according to Garcia, those allegedly caught before the official campaign period cannot yet be considered vote-buying in the eyes of the law.
February 8 marks the start of the campaign period in national positions, while March 25 is in local positions.
He also said that a formal complaint should be filed.
Garcia has previously said that those who buy and sell votes can be punished, even if your promise or offer is enough to influence the vote.
Possible penalties include imprisonment, disqualification from running the candidate, and loss of the right to vote.
“Para po sa mga kababayan natin… wala pong vote buying kung walang vote selling so ‘wag po isipin ng iba na ang guilty lang po ay kandidato,” said Garcia.
“Kahit simpleng promise lang po, kahit wala kang binibigay is already vote buying,” he explained.
This Tuesday, the Comelec also briefed watchers, observers, and the media on the automated election system (AES) for end-to-end testing.
Comelec to form task force vs. vote buying
Those in the test cast their votes using a vote counting machine (VCM) and saw how the consolidation and canvassing system sums up the votes from selected precincts in Cagayan province and Iloilo.
“What transpired today, which is a successful end-to-end transmission of the results, hopefully, ma-replicate ‘yan,” said Garcia.
According to Comelec, it is obviously impossible to hack AES because any system manipulation will not be accepted.
Adequate power supply and internet signal were also ensured on election day on May 9.
The Comelec will also walk through the servers used in the election.
Broadband Global Area Networks are also stationed at regional hubs to be used in areas where the internet signal is weak, and VCM batteries are waiting.
It is expected to announce the winners in the cities and municipalities within 24 hours while in the provinces in 3 days.
It will take a week for senators and party lists, and it is up to Congress to announce the next president and vice president.
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