QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- To prevent vote buying and selling, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will impose a "money ban" that prohibits carrying, possessing, and transporting P500,000 or more cash two days before and on the day of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to Article 1 of the Committee on Kontra Bigay Section 25 - Presumed Vote-Buying and Vote-Selling, the Comelec states that only authorized persons may possess, transport, and carry exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) or its equivalent in any foreign currency.

"Hindi natin pipigilan ang pagwi-withdraw ng mahigit P500,000. Ang atin pong ipo-prohibit at ipa-punish ay yung pagpapadala ng P500,000 lalo na kapag pumasok yung period ng kampanya (We will not prohibit withdrawal of P500,000. What we will prohibit and punish are those sending P500,000 especially when the campaign period starts)," Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a recent interview by media at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Garcia also said that people who are caught carrying amounts of the said cash at any Comelec checkpoints can be charged criminally and they would be detained and investigated.

Workers and individuals with legitimate backgrounds, such as businesspersons and disbursement officials or cashiers, will be exempted from the money ban.

"Saan ka naman nakakita may dala kang kalahating milyon isang araw bago mag election tapos ni hindi ka treasurer, ni hindi ka negosyante? Ano ka, tagapamili ng boto? So ipe-presume namin yung mga taong yan involved sa vote buying (Where can you see someone carrying half a million before the election day and you're not a treasurer nor a businessman? Who are you, a vote buyer? So, we will presume that person is involved in vote buying)," Garcia said.

In response to the directive, all assigned officials of Philippine National Police (PNP) are entrusted with conducting 24-hour money ban checkpoints nationwide.

According to the PNP, they will help with the implementation of the measure especially at the designated Comelec checkpoints via plain view doctrine.

Foraging and search are prohibited therefore plain view doctrine will be implemented during the checkpoints wherein the PNP officers will inspect the vehicles by only looking at the inside of the car.

Aside from the carrying and transporting large sums of money, the Comelec will also monitor the splitting amount of at least P20,000 cash into smaller denominations of P100s, P50s or P20s during the five days preceding election day and on election day, unless necessary for or in connection with the business or occupation of the possessor.

The Comelec also reminded all the candidates to follow the election regulations and other laws and they urged the voters to not vote for candidates who will violate any guidelines. (PIA-NCR)