Comelec to work with e-wallet firms vs. online vote-buying

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to work with electronic wallet operators to help the poll body track vote-buying online for the upcoming May 2022 elections.

On “The Mangahas Interviews,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez bared that vote-buying was prevalent online through e-wallets or e-payments systems.

“Meron po yung tinatawag nating e-wallets or e-payments systems. In fact makikipagusap po ako sa isang kompanya na gumagawa niyan dahil meron silang mga monitoring tools na ginagamit,” Jimenez said.

(There are what we call e-wallets or e-payments systems. In fact, I will talk to a company that does that because they have monitoring tools.)

“I think hindi malinaw sa akin na pwedeng pagbawalan yung gamit niyan for vote-buying but what is important for me right now is that we are able to identify behavior that signals vote-buying,” he added.

(I think it's not clear to me that the use of that can be banned for vote-buying but what is important for me right now is that we are able to identify behavior that signals vote-buying.)

The Comelec spokesperson cited that an account suddenly loaded with a lot of money and then suddenly releasing small amounts can be an indicative behavior of vote-buying.

“Obviously may perang pumasok at pinamimigay ng maliliit that indicates vote buying. So once, we can identify that pwede natin ipasok yan sa law enforcement,” Jimenez said.

“Now law enforcement can then take over from there para magawan nang paraan,” he added.

The campaign period for national posts is set from February 8 to May 7, 2022.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates in local elective posts is set from March 25 to May 7, 2022.

The 2022 general elections will be held on May 9.—LDF, GMA News