October 11, 2023

Anticipating the onset of the campaign period for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have decided to join hands to combat vote-buying and vote-selling.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia will sign a Memorandum of Agreement on October 11 (Tuesday) to work together with other government agencies, citizens’ arms, and other stakeholders to ensure the honest and peaceful conduct of BSKE elections.

“We’re ready to support COMELEC to safeguard the ballot. Labanan natin ang pagbili at pagbebenta ng boto, isang pinakamasamang kanser ng lipunan,” Abalos said.

Under the MOA, the COMELEC and DILG will jointly train DILG and local government personnel to identify and gather evidence on election offenses.

These agencies shall also spearhead an information campaign on vote-buying and vote-selling in all LGUs.

The BSKE election campaign period will be from October 19 to 28, 2023.

Vote-buying and vote-selling, as defined in the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), refer to offering money or anything of value to induce anyone to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote.

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Labanan-ang-kanser-ng-lipunan-DILG-COMELEC-team-up-against-vote-buying-and-selling/NC-2023-1187