Palace reminds: Buying and selling of votes can get you jailed, fined

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday reminded both candidates and voters that vote-buying and selling are prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code.

“The Palace reminds the Filipino people that vote-buying and vote-selling are prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code. So bawal po tumanggap at bawal din po bumili ng boto [So accepting money and buying votes are prohibited],” Acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Kris Ablan during a Palace briefing.

“Anyone found guilty of these prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code face penalties of imprisonment and fine,” he added.

This, when asked for Malacañang’s take on vote-buying as the campaign period for local candidates began on Friday.

Commissioner George Garcia said that the Commission on Election (Comelec) is set to launch an “interagency team” composed of several government agencies and created to tackle vote-buying.

READ: Interagency team vs vote buying to be launched

According to Garcia, the team will be composed of the Comelec, Department of Justice, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The creation of the group came in the wake of reports that politicians are allegedly giving away or distributing cash during campaign activities.

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