THE Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has installed complaint desks to combat vote-buying ahead of the midterm elections.
LCPO spokesman Lt. Col. Christian Torres, in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Sunday, April 27, 2025, said that “Kontra Bigay Desks” are installed at the five police stations in Poblacion, Pusok, Agus, Mactan and Talima.
He said that the measure is in accordance with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) national headquarters mandate launched last Tuesday, April 22, that will allow citizens to report any related incident of such a scheme.
Torres said each police station will assign five officers to man the complaint desk, ensuring on-the-clock monitoring.
The Commission on Election states that vote-buying is an act of withholding a person’s right to vote for, against, or withhold support for any candidate or aspirant in an election or party nomination process.
The process also involves offering money, gifts, jobs or favors to influence someone’s vote or public opinion.
In Lapu-Lapu City, Torres said that any act of vote buying, regardless of the amount, should be reported. He said that if a crime occurs in the presence of an officer or civilian, they can arrest the suspect and turn them over to the police.
“If there’s a need to execute an affidavit, we’ll look into where the case can be filed, either with the fiscal (prosecutor’s office) or endorsed to the Comelec,” Torres said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Torres urged the public to vote wisely and resist being influenced by vote buying. He emphasized that the PNP remains non-partisan, with their mandate focused on service and providing security.
As of Sunday, April 27, Torres said authorities have not received any reports yet but anticipate incoming complaints with the May 2025 elections 14 days away.
He added that Lapu-Lapu City has not reported any election-related incidents, maintaining the area’s peace. / DPC