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The Department of the Interior wants the task force to vote-buying reconstituted.

MANILA, Philippines β€” The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling for the Task Force Kontra Bigay (TFKB) to be reactivated in order to investigate allegations of vote-buying.

DILG undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said vote buying during election season is one of the heaviest blows to Philippine democracy in a Laging Handa briefing on Monday.

Malaya stated that the Task Force Kontra Bigay was active for the first time during the 2019 midterm elections, but that it was only executed at the province level.

The department proposes activating the task force down to the municipal level for the 2022 national and local elections.

“Ngayong 2022 inaasahan ng DILG na kaagad agad ay maaprubahan na ng Comelec ‘yung resolution reconstituting and reactivating the Task Force Kontra Bigay sa tingin ko naging matagumpay ito dahil meron tayong (This year, the DILG expects the Comelec to accept the resolution “I believe it was effective because we detained) 356 violators who were apprehended by the PNP’s designated anti-vote-buying teams at meron tayong PHP12 million in vote-buying money that was confiscated and used as evidence,” Malaya added.

He stated that the agency would check on the status of the cases filed against people who were allegedly involved in vote-buying during the 2019 elections.

The Comelec, Department of Justice, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, DILG, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines make up the inter-agency TFKB.

Malaya said she was told during a meeting with the Comelec that the resolution would be passed on Wednesday and that a further meeting with the task force members would take place after the Holy Week.

“I hope we can also focus on prosecuting these individuals so that our compatriots realize that we are serious about preventing or at the very least reducing vote buying in our country,” he added.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code makes it illegal to buy or sell votes.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao warned election candidates against vote buying in a statement, and urged the public to provide comprehensive sets of evidence that would lead to the perpetrators of the criminal crime.

“The authorities should also increase their vigilance against any kind of vote buying,” Ao said. “Most importantly, when our worried citizens file reports, they should hopefully include all relevant information,” he added.

“At titiyakin natin na maisasagawa ang mandato nito, kasama tayo sa TFKB. (We are with the TFKB and will see to it that its mandate is fulfilled.) We will not pick a candidate), but we will pursue them “Added he.

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