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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has launched its preliminary investigation on 17 cases of vote-buying in the May 2022 elections.
Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Lauduangco disclosed this Friday as he explained that a total of 113 complaints were received and acted upon by the poll body鈥檚 anti-vote buying task force.
Of the 113 cases, he noted, 17 incidents are now undergoing the initial probe after verified complaint-affidavits were filed before the Comelec鈥檚 law department.
According to Laudiangco, the number of complaints that the Comelec received is fewer than anticipated.
鈥淵es,鈥� he said when asked if the number of complaints on vote-buying is better than Comelec鈥檚 expectations.
鈥淏ut we have to remember that the prescription period for election offenses is 5 years from the date of commission. Kaya pwede pa po mag-file pa (So they can still file),鈥� he also told reporters.
Vote-buying and vote-selling incidents may be reported to the official Facebook page of the Comelec鈥檚 Task Force Kontra Bigay, or through the panel鈥檚 e-mail address: kontrabigay@gmail.com.
Vote-buying is considered an election offense under the Omnibus Election Code.
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