The Commission on Elections has empowered its Kontra Bigay Committee (KBC) to deter and prosecute not only those who buy and sell votes, but also those who abuse state resources (ASR), which is defined in Comelec Resolution No. 11104, promulgated on January 28 as one that “pertains to the misuse of government resources, whether material, human, coercive, regulatory, budgetary, media-related, or legislative, for electoral advantage.”
ASR may be committed through the intervention of public officers and employees, exertion of undue influence on or use of public funds during an election campaign, and other prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code.
The resolution also introduces a new provision that imposes a total ban on the distribution of “ayuda” at least 10 days before the elections.
Comelec Chair George Garcia last week led the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement with officials from various government agencies, the police, military, election watchdogs, and mobile wallet companies that will be deputized as members of or to assist “KBC 2.0”
He also encouraged voters to refuse bribes from candidates, not vote for them, and report them to the Comelec, saying it would be up to the poll body to act on the complaint and file the case.
The Comelec chief said voters should be angry at politicians who use state resources “like it’s their pocket money” to buy votes, especially from the poor, or to distribute them to supporters.
The prevalence, normalization, and daresay institutionalization of vote buying in the Philippines makes initiatives like KBC 2.0 seem like token gestures of a poll body that has so far failed to stop the age-old electoral practice that has been perfected by politicians, their machinery, and dynasties.
As the Filipino people wish the Comelec the best of luck in its efforts to stamp out vote buying, we know fully well that the horrid electoral tactic that rears its ugly head every elections will continue to plague the country unless a truly determined whole-of-government approach is deployed, involving all branches of government that are led by officials that are committed to move as one.*
