MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)--The Commission on Election Misamis Oriental Provincial Office strengthened its campaign against vote buying and vote selling, as it established the Committee on KontraBigay (CKB) through COMELEC Resolution No. 10946.

The creation of the committee is in line with he commission’s effort to implement and enforce all of its policies and guidelines to curb vote-buying and vote-selling through a whole-of-nation approach, which include various government agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), and Accredited Citizens’ Arms of the Commission such as National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

According to Atty. Ramil P. Acol, Election Officer for the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro, the Commission, PNP, and AFP discussed the resolution during their meeting at the Regional Joint Command Center and City Joint Security Center to ensure its implementation.

“Between now and then, aware na ang atong mga Law Enforcers together sa Deputized Agencies, sa Prosecution Service [either] sa City or Provincial Prosecutor. Naghulat na lang sila kung naay masubmit sa ilaha na case through affidavit of witness,” Acol said

Acol added that the prosecution and the Committee on Kontra Bigay are willing to file a case against those who will employ vote-buying or vote-selling, especially since the election period has started and the campaign period is still far away. He even gave an example that candidates who give away T-shirts, pamphlets, food, and other things can be considered an example of vote-buying and vote-selling.

On premature campaign

“Based on COMELEC Resolution 10924, the campaign period is only from October 19-28, which is only 10 days. Before that date, in effect na ang atong premature campaign activity. Ang premature campaign activity by any candidate or person may constitute a ground for disqualification. It is not only a ground for disqualification, but also an election offense. There is a criminal aspect to the violation of the premature campaign rules,” Cagayan de Oro City 1st District Election Officer Atty. Joel Dexter Nagtalon reminds the candidates for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election.

Nagtalon emphasizes that the rules regarding premature campaigning apply to all candidates, whether they are incumbents or not. This includes activities like house-to-house visits, meet-and-greets, handshaking events, or any gatherings organized by candidates, which can all be considered premature campaign activities.

The commission also clarifies the issue of premature campaigning involving incumbent barangay officials' activities. It's important to determine whether these actions are carried out as part of their official duties or not.

“If he does his duty as an incumbent elective officer there is no premature campaign. But if he uses the activity to promote his candidacy or his companions, that is premature campaign activity,” Nagtalon added.

He further mentioned that for those who will report about premature election, vote-buying, vote-selling, or any violation committed by a candidate, sufficient evidence should be established so that a complaint can be properly filed in the Commission En Banc through the Office of the Clerk of the Commission and due process will be observed prior for a candidate will be disqualified from election.

Aside from that, Nagtalon also shared that their office and even the commission’s regional office cannot outright disqualify a candidate if there is a complaint because it will undergo a procedure.

He explained that the complaint should be filed to their central office via email or electronic filing. After the complaint filing, the complainant will receive an order of payment for the docket fees. When payment is done, a hard copy will be submitted. After a complaint is accepted by the commission the respondents will receive a summon to give them a chance to answer the complaint.

Nagtalon clarified the complaint procedure, stating that complaints should be submitted to their central office through email or electronic filing. Once filed, the complainant will receive an order for docket fee payment. After payment is completed, a hard copy should be submitted. Following the commission's acceptance of the complaint, the respondents will be served a summon to allow them to respond to the complaint.

The commission urges everyone to report any violations committed by candidates in their respective areas. They also encourage voters to actively participate in upholding the integrity of the election process. Ensuring a clean, honest, and peaceful election is not solely the responsibility of COMELEC, 4ID, PNP, or NAMFREL; it is the duty of every Filipino, he added. (JAKA/PIA10)