WINNING candidates in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) could have their proclamations suspended if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finds evidence of vote-buying during the upcoming parliamentary elections.
However, the polls body said it has yet to receive a vote-buying complaint. Related story on page B8
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the poll body has created task forces across BARMM to intensify its monitoring of vote-buying and act quickly on complaints.
Senior Comelec personnel from the main office have been assigned to the task forces covering various provinces and the cities of Cotabato and Basilan.
The personnel will monitor possible vote-buying activities and directly receive complaints for immediate action by the Comelec en banc, Garcia said.
He also said the commission would act immediately after receiving video evidence or a complaint involving vote-buying.
The warning comes as candidates enter the final stretch of campaigning for the first parliamentary elections in BARMM.
Garcia also pointed to previous Comelec actions involving the cancellation of a political party’s registration and the disqualification of candidates as proof that the commission can impose sanctions for violations.
‘We will not hesitate to disqualify candidates and cancel the registration or disqualify sectoral organizations,’ Garcia said.
Garcia urged candidates and voters not to believe claims that the September 14 elections might not push through.
‘Tuloy na tuloy ang halalan,’ he said.
He also urged voters to reject intimidation and vote-buying and cast their ballots based on their own choices.
Garcia also called on the candidates to observe the rule on election paraphernalia such as tarpaulins.
‘A lot of posters were stripped from public places. And that one time ‘baklas’ [operation] was very successful,’ Garcia said.