LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – To address vote buying and selling on the upcoming Barangay and Sanggniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this October, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Ilocos Norte established the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) and the Kontra Bigay Citizens Complaint Center (KBCCC). 
 
The CKB was created under COMELEC Resolution No. 10964 and takes a whole-of-nation approach to eradicate, if not minimize, all forms of vote buying and selling.
 
This committee is tasked to receive and monitor reports on vote buying and selling incidents; gather evidence of reported incidents; and provide procedures for COMELEC to prosecute through the KBCCC.
 
The KBCCC in Ilocos Norte is now operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but will operate for 24 hours from October 29 to 31.
 
The CKB can also authorize law enforcers to make warrantless arrests for suspects engaged in, are about to engage in, or are attempting to engage in the electoral offense of vote buying and selling.
 
In addition, candidates who are discovered to have violated this rule will be disqualified.
 
Lawyer Alipio Alonzo Castillo III, the provincial election supervisor of COMELEC-Ilocos Norte, emphasized the importance of this program and said that vote buying and selling undermines the integrity of the electoral process and damages the credibility of elections. 
 
“In every election, vote buying and selling is rampant – it is frustrating and insulting. So, the COMELEC suggests strictly imposing the Kontra Bigay to go against vote buying as it is a cancer for democracy,” he said.
 
Moreover, COMELEC will also implement a money ban two days after the BSKE scheduled on October 30, which prohibits procession, transport, and carrying cash exceeding P500,000 along with campaign materials.
 
He also emphasized that giving money through digital or online banking or e-wallets is also considered a form of vote-buying.
 
Castillo hopes that the Kontra Bigay campaign will contribute to a clean and honest BSKE 2023. (JCR/AMB/EJFG/PIA Ilocos Norte)