A DAY before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election, authorities warned individuals implicated in vote buying that they will be arrested if found guilty.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao director Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan issued this warning on Friday in a press conference after the send-off ceremony of uniformed personnel to be deployed in various polling centers in Davao Region. He is not discounting possibilities of such desperate moves from candidates.
“Usually, as per our experience, the night before [election], yan yong maraming sinasabing naggagapangan, nagbabayaran. We will be very active the night before to arrest all persons soliciting and selling or buying votes,” Gaerlan said.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying or vote selling is considered an election offense. It prohibits offers or promises of “money or anything of value” or “gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant” in exchange of votes.
The law says any person found guilty of an election offense shall be punished with imprisonment of one to six years, shall be disqualified to hold public office and shall be deprived of the right of suffrage.
The Comelec also reminded the public to report candidates or individuals in their community who are engaging in such activity and violating the election code.
Meanwhile, 10th Infantry Division (ID) commander Major General Noel Clement assured the public that they will work together with their counterparts in various law enforcement agencies during the election period in ensuring that all violations during the election period will be addressed.
“Our agencies have our respective mandates and we will ensure that we will do everything in our capacity and our power to be able to implement itong mga election laws natin,” Clement stressed.
He also assured that security forces will be on alert in critical areas.
“Hindi namin ihhiinito ang normal duties namin in addressing the threats in performing internal security operations but rather we will just pull out forces to conduct and support the PNP in securing our polling centers,” he said.