EDITORIAL - Buy and sell

Buying and selling votes are election offenses, the Commission on Elections warned the other day. The Comelec issued the reminder after Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, in a remark that the PNP spokesman said was a joke, advised voters to accept money offered by candidates but to vote wisely.

Section 261 of Batas Pambansa 881, the 1985 Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, expressly prohibits the buying and selling of votes. Comelec officials have warned that the offenses can warrant imprisonment of one to six years. 

Yet how many people have been convicted and sent to prison for the offenses? This is why the problem is so widespread even the PNP chief has admitted the difficulty of stopping it – the reason for his “joke.” The problem has been around even during the time of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who also told Filipinos to take money offered by candidates but to vote according to their conscience. That was similar to Albayalde’s message. 

 Vote-buying and selling are believed to be so rampant across the country that the illegal acts are credited for the consistently high voter turnout in all Philippine elections.

 The offenses give undue advantage to candidates with large war chests, regardless of whether they are legitimately wealthy or merely distributing dirty money. The offenses are up there with the other reasons why some of the most corrosive afflictions of Philippine society, such as corruption and injustice, have their roots in elections.

 This situation arises from the weakness of the Comelec in enforcing election rules. The poll body cannot enforce many of its most basic rules, such as those governing common poster areas. With less than two weeks before the midterm elections, campaign materials are polluting walls, trees and electrical posts. The Comelec has to be blind not to identify at least the gross violators.

 In the case of vote buying and selling, it’s impossible to monitor the movements of every candidate, especially if the illegal acts are mutually carried out by buyer and seller. But it’s possible for the Comelec to go after violators randomly, and to make sure offenders – both the vote buyer and seller – are brought to justice. Election laws are no joking matter.