Comelec's Ferolino is TF Kontra Bigay head —Commish Garcia

Commission on Elections Commissioner Aimee Ferolino has been designated head of the inter-agency task force investigating reports of vote-buying.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia announced on Wednesday that Ferolino will be at the helm of Task Force Kontra Bigay, and has been tasked to draft additional guidelines on reports of vote buying.

“Si commissioner Aimee Ferolino po ang naitalaga na head o [chairperson] ng Task Force Kontra Bigay. Therefore, siya ang magpapatawag agad ng meeting ng task force, magda-draft ng necessary additional guidelines,” Garcia told reporters.

“At the same time, magpapatupad ng mandato nitong (implement) Comeclec mandate either to moto propio or accept complaints patungkol sa (concerning) vote buying” he added.

Garcia said the Comelec en banc decided on the designation noting that Ferolino is qualified for the post due to her experience.

“It is actually the en banc ... Una, si Commissioner Ferolino ay napakatapang na commissioner. Pangalawa,  siya po ang vice chairman ng ating gunban at security personnel exemption, at Pangatlo, siya rin ay ang [chairperson] ng iba’t ibang committee tulad ng shipping, at lalo na yung kanyang karanasan sa field,” Garcia pointed out.

(It is actually the en banc who decided on Ferolino's designation. She is a brave commissioner, she is also the vice chairperson of our gun ban and security personnel exemption, and she heads various committees, including shipping. She has lot of experiences in the field.)

“Si commissioner Ferolino ay dating nagsilbi as a field personnel mula field official natin bago siya natalga dito sa Comelec, yung kanyang karanasan pagkatapos nung kanyang tapang pagpinagsama sama mo yan ay napakagandang ingredient para sa pagiging chairman ng Task Force para sa Kontra Bigay,” Garcia added.

(Commissioner Ferolino had served as a field personnel, from being a field official before she became Comelec commissioner. Her experience and her courage are the most desirable qualifications needed to be the head of Task Force Kontra Bigay.)

Earlier, Garcia said the Task Force Kontra Bigay would be composed of several agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Information Agency.

The task force is expected to act motu proprio, as well as on formal complaints involving vote-buying.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra had vowed to create a team composed of the National Prosecution Service, NBI, Public Attorney's Office, and the DOJ Action Center to assist the task force.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person found guilty of election offense shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years.

Also, those found guilty will be denied the right to vote and prohibited from holding public office, and any political party found guilty of vote-buying will be fined. —LBG, GMA News