Vote buying claims need proofs, says Brillantes

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. urged those claiming there were incidents of vote buying to produce evidence.

“Where is the evidence?” Brillantes said when asked by reporters about the many incidents of vote buying reported in the media.

“It’s very important that we have the evidence of vote buying, otherwise all the losing candidates [and their supporters] will say that their opponent won because of vote buying,” he said.

News reports said that vote buying was rampant in Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, northern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas, and even in Metro Manila.

In those areas, politicians allegedly bought votes at about P1,000 per ballot. They also distributed groceries such as coffee sachets, noodles, and bread.

Brillantes however said that news like these were mostly coming from the losing candidates and their supporters.

“Perhaps their opponent was wealthier than them,” he said.

“We will need evidence,” Brillantes said. “We cannot rely on just stories.”