SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) La Union launched the Committee on Kontra Bigay (Committee Against Giving) on September 19 to intensify the fight against vote buying and vote selling in relation to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
 
As per COMELEC No. 10946, the committee's tasks include receiving complaints or reports of vote buying, gathering evidence, preparing affidavits of the witnesses, and ultimately filing cases in court. 
 
This coincided with the establishment of the "Kontra-Bigay Complaint Center" which will receive reports on incidents of vote buying and vote selling.
 

Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, COMELEC Ilocos assistant regional director and acting election officer of San Fernando City, said the commission's goal is to get rid of vote buying and selling as it is considered a societal ill.
 
"Kasi nga itong ating problema on vote buying and vote selling ay isa itong tinuturing na cancer sa ating demokrasya," Balarbar said.
 
He added the commission-designated Committee on Kontra Bigay is serious in the fight against illegal activity through a whole-of-nation approach in collaboration with some government agencies such as the Philippine  National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Anti-Money Laundering Council, among others.

These acts include possession and distribution of money, cards, or campaign paraphernalia that have value, possession or transport of cash exceeding P500,000 five days before election day, among others.
 
Violators, once proven guilty, may be sentenced to at least one-year imprisonment or a maximum period of six years.
 
According to COMELEC, one can report incidents through exclusive communication channels, email, and social media like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
 
The Kontra Bigay Complaint Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until October 28, but it will be operational 24 hours a day from October 29 to 31.
 
"Seryoso po ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC), ang mahuli at makasuhan dito ay may karampatang parusa at diskwalipikasyon at pwede rin silang makasuhan ng election offense," said  Balarbar. (JCR/AMB/KJCR, PIA La Union)