NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino voters must continue to reject vote-buying in order to ensure a free and fair election on May 9, Malacanang reiterated on Friday.

According to Acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan, any individual who engages in vote-buying or vote-selling will face appropriate sanctions under the Omnibus Election Code.

“The Palace wishes to remind the Filipino people that vote-buying and selling are illegal under the Omnibus Election Code,” Ablan said during an online press conference. “Anyone convicted of these prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code will face imprisonment and a monetary penalty.”

According to Section 261(a) of the law, vote-buying and selling involve “any person who gives, offers, or promises money or anything of value, or any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or who makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or causes an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the general public to vote for or against any candidate.”

Additionally, “any person, association, corporation, group, or community that solicits or receives, directly or indirectly, any expenditure or promise of any office or employment, public or private, for any of the foregoing considerations” and “two or more persons, whether candidates or not, who agree to commit any violation of Paragraph (a)” are likely to face charges.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stated that complaints must be lodged immediately and that a task force will investigate allegations of vote-buying.

Any person found guilty of an election offense shall be sentenced to a minimum of one year and a maximum of six years in prison without the possibility of probation.

“Moreover, the guilty party shall be sentenced to be disqualified from holding public office and to be deprived of the right to vote,” the law states.

Ablan also emphasized the importance of maintaining minimum public health standards in light of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Kumpiyansa kaming mananatiling maging alerto sa pagsisimula ng local election campaign period ang atin mga kababayan. Sumunod po tayo sa mask, hugas, iwas, lalo na po sa iwas o ang tinatawag nating. “Continue wearing the mask, washing your hands, and observing) social distancing,” he stated.

On Thursday, acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar ensured that there will be no slowdown in the government’s Covid-19 vaccination drive despite the start of the campaign period for local positions on Friday.

As of March 24, approximately 65.5 million people, or 72.81 percent of the population, were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with 11.7 million receiving booster shots.

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