The Commission on Elections and Department of Justice sign an agreement formalizing the creation of the “Kontra-Bigay committee” against vote-buying and selling in a ceremony held on Monday, September 25. Photo from DOJ
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday signed an agreement formalizing the creation of the “Kontra-Bigay (anti-bribery) committee.”
Comelec chair George Garcia said that the Kontra-Bigay committee, prior to the signing of the memorandum of agreement, was only a task force assigned to act on formal complaints against vote-buying and selling.
“Dati po task force lamang ang kontra bigay, mas pinarapat na po nating gawing permanent na committee…sapagka’t ‘yung laban po sa pamimili at pagbebenta ng boto ay hindi lang laban lang na ordinaryo, kinakailangan po ‘yung tunay na dedikasyon at pagpapatunay sa mga kababayan na seryoso ang [Comelec] at lahat ng partner agencies niya,” said Comelec chair George Garcia during the signing.
(Previously, kontra-bigay was only a task force, but we decided it was more appropriate for us to make it a permanent committee… because the fight against buying and selling votes is not just an ordinary fight, it requires true dedication and validation to compatriots who take the [Comelec] and all its partner agencies seriously.)
Garcia explained that with the formation of the Kontra-Bigay committee, the prosecutorial arm of the government led by the National Prosecution Service and other agencies in the Department of Justice will now be on its side.
“Masisigurado natin na hindi lang matatakot, sadyang matututukan at magiging seryoso ang kampanya sa makabagong cancer ng ating demokrasya,” he added.
(We can be sure that the campaign against the modern cancer of our democracy will not only be feared, but will be focused and serious.)
Meanwhile, for his part, DOJ Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed how vote-buying and vote-selling is not only an act robbing Filipinos of their right to vote, but also a “strike at the very heart of our democracy.”
He then urged Filipinos to work with the government in reporting incidents related to vote-buying and selling, adding that with the formation of the committee, all those who commit election offenses will “face the full force of the law.”
“Ang pakakatatag ng committee ng Kontra-Bigay Committee ng comelec, ay isang makabuluhang hakbang, pero ang laban kontra sa mga maling gawain sa eleksyon ay hindi lang trabaho ng Comelec, the entire nation must rally behind this cause,” said Remulla.
READ: Comelec launches anti-vote buying task force
(The establishment of the Comelec’s anti-bribery committee is a significant step, but the fight against electoral malpractices is not just the work of the Comelec, the entire nation must rally behind this cause.)
“Dapat sama sama tayong lahat sa laban na ito. Dito papasok ang kahalagan ng MOA na pipirmahan ngaoyn, sa moa na ito magkasamang tatayo at maguusap, layunin natin na siguruihn na ang mga nagkakasala sa eleksyon ay haahrap sa batas, combining the investigatory prowess of Comelec and the prosecutory power of the DOJ we aim to ensure those who commit election offenses face the full force of the law,” he added.
READ: Comelec warns vs premature campaigning
(We must all be together in this fight. Here comes the importance of the MOA that will be signed today, in this MOA we will stand together, our goal is to make sure that those who commit crimes in the election will face the law, combining the investigative prowess of Comelec and the prosecutorial power of the DOJ we aim to ensure those who commit election offenses face the full force of the law.)