PNP forms 105 teams vs vote buying

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed 105 special teams that will pursue complaints of vote buying and selling.

PNP operations director Maj. Gen. Mao Aplasca said the special teams are dedicated to addressing vote-buying concerns nationwide. 

One special team will be created for each district in Metro Manila and another team for the regional headquarters in the National Capital Region, he said.

Other regions are mandated to create one team per province and one team for the regional office. The teams would be manned by at 10 personnel from reserve forces, the intelligence unit and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). 

Aplasca said it would be easier for the public to report their concerns on vote buying.

Complainants just have to fill out a complaint form or call the hotline and their concerns would be acted on immediately. 

“We are appealing to the public to support us in this campaign. We need the support of the people,” he said. 

PACC reports 15 cases

This developed as the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate 15 incidents of vote buying reported to the agency.

PACC Commissioner Grego Belgica said vote buying is a “corrupt election practice” that should not be tolerated as it “obstructs our democratic process by impeding the exercise of our rights to freely choose our leaders.”

“When a candidate chooses to pay for your votes, they show utter disregard for our democratic process and a willingness to use illegal means to further their interests,” Belgica said.

Belgica said his office had received 15 reports of vote-buying incidents occurring in Santiago City in Isabela, Ozamiz City, Pasay City, Manila and Muntinlupa. 

Belgica said he filed these reports with the Comelec through its Task Force Kontra Bigay.

The task force was formed by the poll body with the PNP, Department of the Interior and Local Government and National Bureau of Investigation.

For his part, Comelec Commissioner Al Parreño has called on the public to be vigilant against vote buying by not selling their votes and reporting those who buy votes.

“We hope to receive many reports because we want to put an end to this practice which undermines our electoral processes,” he added.

Task Force chief John Rex Laudiangco said they have already docketed 10 cases of vote buying, including against reelectionist Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remullla.

Laudiangco said the creation of the task force shows the government is taking proactive action against vote buying. 

“We are sending a message for those who experience vote buying and selling to not be afraid and go to the government. We have practically enabled a nationwide network to investigate, stop and prosecute those involved,” he said. 

Since the start of the election period, 24 persons have been arrested in Regions 4A and the Cordilleras for alleged vote buying, he said. 

Belgica added they also received reports that some policemen were involved in vote buying and partisan politics.

Belgica encouraged the public to report all cases of vote buying. “Every report will have a significant effect in our fight against corruption.”

“Unless and until the elections are free and clean, democracy will not be beneficial to us. Take money from vote buyers but do not vote for them,” he said.  

Under the law, any person found guilty of committing election offense, including vote buying, shall be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Aside from facing imprisonment, those convicted of vote buying also lose their right to vote.

Comelec officials said those found selling their votes would also be charged.

Drug-funded vote buying

With only two days left before election day, authorities are being deluged with reports of vote buying across the country.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said he personally receives so many complaints of vote buying on his cellphone.

Albayalde admitted the allegations of vote buying “are everywhere” in the country.

Sen. Richard Gordon reported almost all the barangays in Olongapo City were “invaded by people buying votes rampantly and scandalously.”

Gordon cited reports that supporters of Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun and Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino were seen overseeing the operation of buying votes that the senator claimed were funded by illegal drugs.

“I am chagrined by the massive vote buying by an alleged narco-politician and his corrupt cohorts in my hometown… It is very clear that all these money come from drugs,” Gordon said.

Gordon accused Khonghun and Paulino of violating the Omnibus Election Code as well as “manifesting the power of drug money in shaping and killing our democracy.”

He claimed drug-funded vote buying “is happening all over the Philippines by desperate politicians who do not want to lose the elections.”

The police, however, are still verifying the claims made by Gordon.

The Olongapo police said they earlier received a report of vote-buying activity allegedly led by Khonghun at an iceplant in Sta. Rita.

Policemen were dispatched to the area but found no such activity, officials said.

Khonghun and Paulino yesterday denied Gordon’s allegations of vote buying.

Both officials called a press conference, saying the senator had no sufficient evidence.

Khonghun said what was presented by Gordon as evidence was just a gathering of poll watchers getting instructions and food allowance for Monday’s elections.

“What they’re showing as evidence are pictures of people getting off tricycles, passengers disembarking from jeepneys and people standing on the streets and there is no actual photo of people receiving money from another,” Khonghun pointed out.

Paulino, for his part, said those accusing them of vote buying are the ones who have such a record.

Paulino said during the 2013 elections, then incumbent James Gordon was caught buying votes.  – With Sheila Crisostomo, Paolo Romero, Ric Sapnu, Bebot Sison, Ben Serrano