Comelec praises GCash transfer limit for Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections has praised the e-wallet app GCash for imposing a temporary daily transfer limit to curb vote-buying in the 2025 national and local elections.

Through its Committee on Kontra Bigay, Comelec sent a letter commending GCash for its proactive measure.

“The Comelec’s earnest effort to ensure fair, clean, and honest elections has been met with limitations and challenges. These challenges come from the ever-evolving technology available to unscrupulous individuals who want to fraudulently influence the outcome of elections,” the letter stated.

“A very good example of such exploited technology is online transactions using electronic money. The ease and convenience of such online transactions attracts malicious individuals to buy and/or sell votes for or against a candidate,” it added.

GCash announced that its "Express Send" and "Send via QR" features will have a daily limit until May 12, 2025, the day of the elections. Normal transactions will resume on May 13, 2025. Business accounts are also subject to the restrictions.

“Imposing a daily limit on transactions for GCash, the most ubiquitous mobile payment service, will be instrumental in curbing attempts to buy votes. This will be crucial during the few days before the elections, which is usually when rampant vote-buying occurs,” Comelec said.

“We sincerely thank GCash for partnering with the Comelec in the fight against vote-buying. This shows your commitment to the welfare of the Filipino people and the democratic exercises of our country.”

The letter, dated March 12, was signed by Comelec Chairperson George Garcia and Committee on Kontra Bigay Commissioner-in-Charge Ernesto Maceda Jr.

In February, Comelec warned of stricter measures against vote-buying, vote-selling, and misuse of state resources for the upcoming May polls as part of the Committee on Kontra Bigay's renewed campaign. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

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