Comelec can probe vote-buying claims sans complainants — Robredo spox

Atty. Barry Gutierrez. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) can initiate an investigation on claims of vote-buying in campaign sorties without waiting for a complainant, Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson claimed on Tuesday.

Robredo spokesman Barry Gutierrez, a lawyer by profession, told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo’s On the Spot that since several vote-buying allegations have been well documented by media, Comelec can already delve deeper into these issues.

He added that there were admissions from some officials that money was distributed during sorties and rallies, although the officials said that these merely coincided with the distribution of social aid.

“Ang isang kinadidismaya ko lang, ang dami nang reports na lumabas before, ang dami nang mga picture ng mga (vote-buying) — at hindi lang basta picture, inamin mismo ng mga tao, na lider na nag-organize ng rally na namigay sila ng pera.  ‘Yon nga lang meron silang ibang […] ayuda daw, hindi pa raw start ng campaign period sa local kaya pwede pa raw magbigay,” Gutierrez said.

(One of the things I’m disappointed at is that a lot of reports have already come out, there are pictures of alleged vote-buying, and these are not only pictures but leaders and organizers of the said rally have admitted that they are giving money.  But they said that it was for social aid, and that the local campaign period has not started which allows them to give money.)

“Pero ‘di ba?  Sa akin dapat sapat na ‘yong batayan para at least simulan ng Comelec ang imbestigasyon.  Di naman sila required na tumanggap, na maghintay ng ano, ng reklamo ng sinuman.  Nakita na nila ‘yon,” he added.

(But for me, I think that’s a sufficient basis for Comelec to at least start an investigation.  They are not compelled to receive or wait for any complaints from anyone.  They themselves saw it already.)

According to Gutierrez, Comelec is not a court which would hear complaints, but a body tasked to implement the elections — hence it can move on its own and investigate these issues.

“Hindi kailangan ng complainant, sa akin hindi dapat gano’n ‘yon eh, ang Comelec hindi naman korte ‘yan ‘di ba.  Sila ang tiga-pangasiwa ng eleksyon, so on their own, they can actually move to investigate,” he noted.

(I don’t think there’s a need for a complaint, because for me, that is not the case because Comelec is not a court, right?  They are in-charge of the elections, so on their own, they can actually move to investigate.)

Gutierrez did not mention what specific vote-buying event he was talking about, but Comelec last March 17 said that it needs to hear complainants after national television stations captured the provision of envelopes containing money at a Nueva Ecija rally of former senator Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Uniteam.

Marcos is running for president while Duterte-Carpio is his running mate.

Local officials in the town claimed the activity cannot be labeled as vote-buying, because the official provision of social aid was scheduled way before the Marcos-Duterte rally.

READ: Comelec on alleged distribution of money during Marcos rally: We need complainants 

But on March 22, cash gifts were given again in a Marcos-Duterte rally, this time in Cavite, for people who participated in a ‘talent showdown’.  This was before tha campaign period for local candidates, which started on March 25.

READ: In Marcos-Duterte rally, Remulla gives away prize money after ‘talent showdown’ 

However, Comelec has recently expressed intent to file their own complaints after receiving reports of vote-buying.  This was after Commissioner George Garcia confirmed that they would be creating a task force that would go after candidates accused of engaging in vote-buying.

READ: On its own, Comelec to file raps vs vote-buying 

READ: Comelec to form task force against vote buying 

The task force is a welcome development according to Gutierrez, who hopes that Comelec would seriously ensure fair play in the coming elections.

“Sa karanasan natin bilang sambayanan na marami nang eleksyon ang pinagdaanan, laging may allegations ng vote-buying.  Pero sa aking pagkaka-alala, halos walang nakakasuhan n’yan, ‘di ba certainty, walang naapektuhang kandidatura dahil sa ganyang kaso,” he said.

(In our experience as a country which has seen various elections, there are always allegations of vote buying.  But if my memory serves me right, I think no one has been held liable, there is no certainty because no candidate has been affected by a vote-buying case.)

“Pero ‘yon nga, sabi nga nila, ‘di ba hope springs eternal.  Ngayong merong ganitong declaration ang Comelec at ngayong dahil sa social media mas mabilis ang pag-monitor at paglabas ng ganitong klase ng mga balita, sana nga magkaroon ng ganitong mas klaro at mas desididong pagkilos,” he added.

(But as they say, hope springs eternal.  Now that Comelec made this declaration, and with the help of social media which has enabled quicker monitoring and propagation of these stories, I hope that there would be clearer and more decisive actions from the poll body.)

JPV