213 bets face disqualification for vote buying

MANILA, Philippines — Over 200 candidates in the coming midterm elections are facing possible disqualification for allegedly engaging in vote-buying activities and abuse of state resources, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec data showed that its Kontra Bigay committee has so far issued a show cause order against 213 candidates and party-list groups.

Of the total figure, 130 involved alleged vote buying and vote selling activities, mostly through the distribution of cash, while 67 were abuse of state resources, including misuse of government assistance programs.

Among those issued show cause orders were Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who is running for senator; Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and her rivals Isko Moreno and Sam Versoza; Marikina mayoral bet Stella Quimbo and re-electionist Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.

Show cause orders were also issued against Cagayan gubernatorial candidate Zarah Rose Lara, Laguna gubernatorial bet Danilo Fernandez, Aurora gubernatorial candidate Reynante Tolentino and Maguindanao del Sur candidate Datu Ali Midtimbang.

The Kontra Bigay committee also issued show cause orders against the party-list group Kamalayan ng Maralita at Malayang Mamamayan (Kamalayan) party-list and a few non-candidates.

Southern Luzon accounted for the most number of show cause orders, with 44, followed by those in Central Luzon with 38 and the National Capital Region with 33.

Yesterday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia reported that he had already referred to the Kontra Bigay committee the alleged involvement of a local candidate in Makati in vote buying.

Garcia said the poll body will not hesitate to file disqualification and election offense cases against those proven to be involved in vote buying or abuse of state resources.

He explained that the issuance of a show cause order is important to start the process of penalizing those violating election rules.

“As you can see from the list of show cause order recipients, this is party-neutral. We are not biased,” Garcia said.

“All those who need to be issued show cause orders will be given one,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte told voters in Bohol to think deeper when choosing candidates in the coming elections, referring to vote-buying/ selling as “transactional.”

Duterte made the remark during the proclamation of provincial candidates in the city of Tagbilaran on Monday.

According to her, a candidate buying votes loses voters’ respect and vice versa.

Recently, Duterte endorsed Rep. Camille Villar and Isko Moreno, who were both issued show cause orders for alleged vote-buying. — Ric Obedencio