Comelec, DOJ join forces vs BSKE vote buying

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) have signed a memorandum for the Kontra Bigay program, aimed at combating vote buying and selling not only in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30 but also in future elections.

The memorandum will allow the Comelec to coordinate with the DOJ and its attached agencies to address election-related offenses.

“We are strengthening the foundations of our democracy. We aim to fight vote-buying and vote-selling, which ruins the integrity of our electoral process,” said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“By combining the investigatory prowess of the Comelec and the prosecutorial power of the DOJ, we aim to ensure those who commit election offenses will face the full force of the law,” Remulla added.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that in the Committee on Kontra Bigay’s guidelines, Comelec can file cases based on presumptions with additional evidence.

“We have shifted the burden of evidence on those arrested,” Garcia said.

Warrantless arrests can also be conducted if individuals are caught in the act.