Comelec to ban carrying P500K cash during BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from firearms, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will prohibit carrying cash of P500,000 or more five days before and on the day of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to prevent vote-buying.

Anyone caught carrying P500,000 cash in public can be charged criminally, the Comelec said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a briefing with concerned government agencies and other stakeholders at Camp Crame yesterday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said he has ordered the implementation of a money ban five days before the holding of the twin elections on Oct. 30.

Garcia clarified that they would not ban cash withdrawals of P500,000 and above.

“What we will prohibit and penalize is the carrying of P500,000, especially when the campaign period starts,” Garcia said in Filipino.

People caught carrying that amount of cash at Comelec checkpoints would be detained and investigated, he added.

Garcia said the ban is not absolute as there are people such as messengers and cashiers who are required to transport large sums of money.

Workers have to present identification cards and other documents to prove they are tasked to transport the cash.

“There is no Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the money ban, that’s why the Comelec will try to impose such to deter vote-buying,” Garcia also said.

Since people are using electronic wallet apps in conducting transactions, the Comelec said it would coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to monitor transactions involving large sums of money on GCash and PayMaya.

Those who will be caught can be charged with vote-buying and face imprisonment of one to six years, Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief publicist of the Philippine National Police, said the PNP would play a vital role in the implementation of the ban, especially at checkpoints.

Unless there is probable cause to conduct a thorough search, Maranan said that police officers would implement the plain view doctrine or visual search on vehicles.

Maranan gave assurance that the officers would extend utmost courtesy to motorists at security checkpoints.

To ensure protection of both sides, the PNP will realign the usage of body cameras to lawmen assigned at checkpoints.

The PNP earlier said it has only about 2,700 body cameras, which is only six percent of the required 45,000 gadgets for the police force.

During a similar briefing, Comelec’s committee on Kontra-Bigay secretary Glinis Tamondong said all Comelec checkpoints nationwide are mandated to implement the money ban as well as gun ban.

In 2013, the Comelec also imposed a money ban, wherein cash withdrawals or check encashments of more than P100,000 as well as transport or possession of cash exceeding P500,000 were prohibited in the days leading to election day.

The SC issued a status quo ante order against the money ban after the Comelec drew flak and opposition for implementing such.

Tamondong said the Comelec would also prohibit giving of ayuda or cash assistance from the start of the campaign period on Oct. 19 until election day on Oct. 30.

“If you are distributing ayuda, we will presume that you are engaging in vote buying,” Tamondong said. “But giving aid to qualified individuals is exempted from the prohibition.”

The Comelec said house-to-house campaigning involving giving of money, discount cards, grocery items and other goods would also be deemed vote-buying.

Conducting bingo games, talent shows or other similar activities that involve distribution of prizes by candidates or their supporters or by any person in which the names of the candidates are mentioned or the pictures of the candidates are visible, will also be deemed as vote buying, the poll body said.

Even medical missions, legal aid services, feeding programs or any caravan offering any or all of these services in a certain barangay or locality where the names of the candidates are mentioned, or those conducted in a place where the name or picture of a candidate is visible or displayed, is also considered
votebuying.

Garcia has defended the updated guidelines on vote-buying, saying the poll body is merely implementing the rules on vote buying as provided under the Omnibus Election Code.

He urged voters not to vote for candidates who are violating election regulations and other laws.

Garcia said that substitution of candidates is prohibited in the BSKE.

“We do not allow substitution of candidates, except when a candidate has died or was disqualified, then the spouse can substitute provided his or her name is written on the certificate of candidacy,” he said.