Comelec hopes for BSP help vs vote buying

To discourage vote buying by candidates in the May 12 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to deny client requests to "break the bill" a week before election day.

- RHODINA VILLANUEVA

"Change of paper money into smaller bills such as P100 or P200 should be prohibited a week or two weeks before election day," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in an interview with The STAR's online show "Truth on the Line."

Garcia noted that a candidate or his/her team normally won't give away a P1,000 bill to every voter.

What they will do is have that large amount of bill changed to smaller amounts so that it will look like they have a thick pile of money with them, and the act will look impressive for a candidate,” he explained.

Through the proposed measure, the Comelec is hoping for a reduction of 20 to 25 percent in vote-buying incidents.

The Comelec chief also pointed out that vote buying will not take place a month before elections.

“Vote buying will happen two to three days before elections. That is a crucial time for us. We have to be vigilant of the use of e-wallets and similar platform. We should be on the lookout for that,” Garcia said.