City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) personnel rush the cleaning of the ballot boxes for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at Quezon City Hall compound in Quezon City on Tuesday (October 17, 2023). Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterates the strict prohibitions for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) campaign period, starting October 19 to 28. (INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) maintains the currently authorized expense of candidates amounting to five pesos per registered voter is enough.
The statement comes as the campaign period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) officially starts on Thursday.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, the allowable expense of candidates is five pesos per registered voter in the constituency where they filed their candidacies.
According to Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, candidates will only campaign within their barangays, so the rate is adequate.
“Bagamat talagang overly inflated na ito, ang kakampanyahan lang po naman ay barangay,” he said in an interview on Radyo 630.
(Although this is already overly inflated, the campaign is only within the barangay.)
BSKE candidates are not authorized to buy merchandise such as t-shirts and other paraphernalia for the voters.
They are also not allowed to spend on entertainment or food during gatherings for their campaigns.
Raffles and related activities are prohibited, too.
“Kaya po sa tingin namin, kahit na outdated ‘yang halaga ng P5 na ‘yan [per registered voter] ay sapat na para sa barangay and SK elections,” Laudiangco said.
(So, for us, even if it is already outdated, the five-peso amount will still be enough for barangay and SK elections.)
Regarding campaign assemblies, entertainment, and food distributions are not allowed as these actions constitute vote buying.
By doing so, they exceed the authorized election expenditure.
“‘Yan po kasi ay nakaka-impluwensya, nakaka-induce, at nakaka-corrupt ng voter,” Laudiangco said.
(These influence, induce, and corrupt voters.)
“At higit sa lahat po, lumalagpas po sila sa gastos na allowable na pwede nilang gastusin sa kampanya,” he pointed out.
(And most significantly, they exceed the allowable expense they can have for the campaign.)
“Magiging vote buying po ‘yan, lalo na kung mamimigay sila ng direktang pagkain sa ating mga botante,” he specified.
(That will be vote buying, especially if they are going to give food to the voters directly.)
“So paalala po namin, hindi lang ‘yan illegal campaigning. Makakasuhan pa kayo ng vote buying na kasong kriminal po,” the Comelec spokesperson added.
(So we remind that such action will not only be illegal campaigning. You will also be charged with vote buying, which is a criminal case.)
Laudiangco then identified inexpensive ways of campaigning.
He said candidates may campaign by setting up a meeting de avance where they can explain their platforms.
They can also campaign through social media, visit their constituents, hand out pamphlets, or hold motorcades.
“Paalala namin din po, ‘pag lumagpas sila doon sa limang piso kada registered voter po na allowable expenditure, iba pa pong dagdag na kaso,” Laudiangco reminded candidates.
(We also remind that if they exceed the five pesos per registered voter allowable expenditure, it is still a different case.)
“Overspending po ‘yan. Kasong kriminal din po ‘yan,” he said.
(That is overspending. That is a criminal case.)
Criminal offenses relating to the elections do not only apply to the candidates.
Their supporters who will inappropriately spend or sponsor the candidates’ campaign may also be held liable.
“Pareho rin pong ipinagbabawal ‘yan, dahil po ‘yung ating vote buying, hindi naman po si kandidato lang ang pinagbabawalan na mamigay,” Laudiangco said.
(Both are prohibited since in vote buying, it is not only the candidate who cannot give something.)
“Kahit sinong tao po na gagawa ng pamimigay ng pagkain, transportasyon, pangako ng employment, pangako ng prangkisa, o ano mang bagay na may intensyon, directly o indirectly to solicit votes,” he enumerated.
(Anyone who will give food, transportation, a promise of employment, a promise of a franchise, or anything with direct or indirect intention to solicit votes.)
“Yan po ay makakasuhan sila, hindi lamang si kandidato. Dalawa pa po silang makakasuhan – ‘yung namigay [na supporter], at ‘yun pong kandidato, he said.
(They will be charged, not only the candidate. Two will be held liable – the supporter who gave things to solicit votes and the candidate.)
Candidates should indicate in their statement of contribution and expenditure the free services they received from their supporters, Laudiangco said.
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