Eleksyon 2025: Spotting vote-buying and vote-selling in digital platforms

With the rise of mobile banking and e-wallets, vote-buying and vote-selling are no longer limited to cash handouts in dark alleyways or secret meetings. Instead, these illegal transactions are now happening in the digital space, making them harder to track—but just as dangerous to democracy.

Reminder, don’t make your vote a one-time payment. Your vote is your voice.

However, some politicians and groups are attempting to silence voters by turning their ballots into a transactional commodity. Whether it’s through direct cash transfers, mobile banking deposits, or e-wallet transactions, digital vote-buying is a serious election offense.

What Counts as Vote-Buying and Vote-Selling Online?

Vote-buying occurs when a person:

• Gives, offers, or promises money or anything of value in exchange for a vote.
• Promises jobs, franchises, grants, or any public or private position in return for electoral support.
• Makes or causes an expenditure—directly or indirectly—to influence voters.
• Funnels campaign funds to an entity, corporation, association, or community to sway election results.

Vote-selling, on the other hand, happens when a person, group, or organization:

• Solicits or receives money, employment, or any promise in exchange for a vote.
• Accepts digital payments or financial incentives in return for electoral support.

Red Flags: How to Spot Digital Vote-Buying

Be on the lookout for these suspicious activities:

• Significant or large transactions occurring in a short period of time.
• Unjustified large cash deposits and withdrawals.
• Transactions seem to be inconsistent with the customer's financial profile or declared business.
• Unusual transactions or activities compared with normal everyday trade or dealings.
• Structured cash deposits and money transfers.
• Use of multiple accounts by a single transactor.
• Use of several money service businesses to send funds.

Where to report:

If you witness suspicious transactions related to vote-buying, report them to the following authorities:

• Philippine National Police (PNP)
• Kontra Bigay Complaint Center
  Hotlines: 0995-299-3725 / 0921-54-5992
• Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE)
  Hotline: 0920-266-0944
• National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)
  Hotlines: (63) 939-1102872 / (63) 977-2417080
• Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
  Hotline: (02) 8807-6283

A single vote can shape the future. Selling it for a one-time digital payment may seem tempting, but the consequences last for years. Let’s keep elections clean and fair—don’t let your vote be bought, online or offline. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.