MANILA -- Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Manny Villar may face a disqualification case after giving away scholarship grants to his supporters, the poll body said Friday.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the act may be considered vote buying, and thus violated the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
Section 261 of the OEC states that vote buying is when a person “gives, offers or promises money or anything of value” in order to induce anyone to vote for or against any candidate.
“The fact na may babayaran na tuition fee o kung cover ang libro, damit, even miscellaneous expenses… that is money or anything of value,” Sarmiento said.
The Comelec official’s reaction came after reports that Villar’s camp gave away scholarship grants to some participants of a rock concert he sponsored at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Thursday night.
Another report said that Villar handed out money to some children during his campaign sortie in Batangas province.
The NP presidentiable, however, said it is not vote buying since he was not part of the program and did not prod people to vote for him. He said it was his daughter Camille who gave out the grants.
NP spokesperson and senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla, in an interview, backed Villar’s statement, saying the act could not be vote buying as it was simply the presidential bet’s way of showing his compassion for the children.
Sarmiento, on the other hand, refused to further discuss Villar’s case since he does not want to preempt the commission’s decision as someone might file a case against the lawmaker.
He advised the public to submit a complaint about any candidate violating the law so that the commission can investigate the case.
“Sana may tumindig na complainant at ipaabot sa Comelec ang nangyari para mapag-aralan, matingnan ng Comelec kung talagang may violation or election offense… then let the wheels of justice roll,” he said.
Vote buying is considered an election offense that carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, as well as the removal of the right to vote and be voted. It has been one of the most common offenses that most candidates commit during elections, according to the OEC. (FP/Sunnex)