Comelec sees rampant vote-buying in Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections expects vote-buying to be rampant in Eleksyon 2025.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," the practice is also seen to become more personal as vote-buyers are already aware that payment platforms are already being monitored for election-related activities.

"Ini-expect natin sa darating na election magiging talamak ang vote-buying," Comelec chairman George Garcia said.

(We expect that vote-buying will be rampant in the coming election.) 

"Kung ikaw nagpadala sa dalawampung tao mahigit sa isang araw sa isang transaksyon, presume namin na engaged sa vote-buying," he added.

(If you send money to more than 20 people in a day in one transaction, we presume you are engaged in vote-buying.) 

According to OCTA research, most Filipinos do not sell their votes. However, politicians often take advantage of poor voters. 

There are many types of vote buying, may it be in cash or kind. It is usually done in the last days before the election, according to political analyst Ranjit Rye.

"Instead of thinking long term and thinking of big things like democracy citizenship and leadership they look at the short term, it's a chance for us to eat," Rye said.

Many times, the votes of the whole family are bought. Vote-buying is rampant at the local level or for positions such as councilor, mayor, governor, or congressman.

"There's a package given to the whole family to vote or not to vote, certain communities or barangays that are not favorable to local politicians will either prevent them from voting or encourage them to vote," Rye said.

The Comelec said vote buying undermines the integrity of the election. 

To fight this, a memorandum of agreement was signed between the Comelec and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to guard not only vote buying but other violations of election rules. —