Comelec launches Kontra Bigay vs vote buying

The Commission on Elections yesterday urged Filipino voters not to accept money from political candidates engaged in vote buying, and not to vote for them in the May 12 elections.

- By Rhodina Villanueva

"Never will the Comelec say (to the voters), accept (the money) but do not vote (for the candidate). Don't accept and don't vote because what's at stake is our future," said Comelec Chairman George Garcia during the launch of the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

"There is nothing a vote buyer can do if no one takes (the money he is offering). It takes two to tango," said Garcia.

He added that if voters learn to refuse the money offered by political candidates during election season, it shows that "we are mature people of this maturing democracy, and that is proof that we have control over the future of our country."

Garcia also expressed concern that vote buyers target poor young voters.

"It is sad that they focus on our youth voters who are poor, especially the first-time voters. Our appeal is for them not to let these people take advantage of their being poor, of their being hungry," he added.

With the campaign for the midterm elections set to commence on Feb. 11, the Comelec urged the public, including the media, to report any untoward incidents or irregularities so that the Commission can immediately act on it.