“FILE formal complaint.”
The challenge came from Negros Occidental Provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor lawyer Roberto Salazar in reaction to what former governor Rafael Coscolluela alleged that “dirty campaign tactics” are employed against presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo.
Coscolluela, who is Robredo’s campaign manager in the province, said among the “dirty tricks” they observed are pamahog (threats), patalang (deceptions), pasalig (false promises), pamakal (vote-buying) and pangbaklas (removal of campaign materials).
Asked who might be behind all of these, Coscolluela said the camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the only one capable of doing it.
"I just heard the stories (about the allegations) and read it on Facebook," Salazar said, as he assured that his office is open to receive complaints.
If the camp of Robredo are intimidated and threatened during their campaign, Salazar stressed, they should file their formal complaints and prove it rather than just hurl allegations.
“It's like vote-buying that you need to prove the commission of an illegal act,” he said, adding that if the allegations of Coscolluela are true, it is considered grave coercion which is a violation of the Omnibus Election Law.
Salazar said if they received a complaint, they would immediately act on it with the representatives from the Philippine National Police and Army.
“We will check if there is evidence to support the complaint and also take proactive measures,” he said.
What the Comelec wants, he said, is for the people to exercise their will freely and ensure that the election will be safe and secure.
Former Murcia mayor Sonny Coscolluela, spokesman of BBM-Sara in Negros Occidental, also said that such allegations from the other political camp is unfounded.
"There's no record of such in any police station here," he said, adding that their supporters in the province properly observe Comelec rules and regulations.