DOJ, NBI to probe vote-buying incidents

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation, will be busy looking into allegations of vote-buying, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“Considering the importance of the forthcoming elections to the survival and recovery of the nation, I will direct the DOJ contingent to give the highest priority to this campaign in the next 40 days,” Guevarra told reporters on Tuesday.

He said he would create composite teams of officials from the NBI, the National Prosecution Service, and the Public Attorney’s Office to help the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in thwarting attempts by unscrupulous candidates to use their money in influencing the May 9 general elections.

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The DOJ field offices all over the country would also provide their assistance to the Comelec-led “Kontra Bigay,” an interagency task force against vote buying, Guevarra added.

Last week, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the poll body would form a task force to go after politicians and individuals flouting campaign regulations, such as the prohibition against the use of money to buy the support of voters.

Garcia also said the commission would file criminal complaints against the violators motu proprio, or on its own, after videos of some politicians distributing cash during campaign rallies went viral on social media.

One such incident involved reelectionist Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, who was seen giving away cash prizes during a campaign event for presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province, on March 22.

Remulla later defended his cash-giving, saying it could not be considered an election offense as the campaign period for local candidates had yet to start at that time. Local bets kicked off their campaign on March 25.

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