As the Commission on Elections (Comelec) clamps down on all forms of vote-buying and vote-selling, some unscrupulous politicians are allegedly resorting to "under-the-table" tactics.
One of these, Comelec officials in Laguna said in a notice issued May 1, is the use of training activities for poll watchers and poll coordinators to disguise vote-buying.
“It has come to the attention of this Office that certain candidates and political organizations are conducting so-called "watchers' or coordinators' trainings" which, in reality, show manifestations of orchestrated vote buying and other unlawful election-related activities," Comelec Laguna Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Patrick Enaje said in the notice.
Due to this, Comelec Laguna has mandated all political parties and candidates to submit advance notices of their training or orientation activities for poll watchers and coordinators at least 24 hours before such activity.
Furthermore, only poll watchers and coordinators who were listed by their candidates and political parties and approved by the Comelec on or before April 27 will be allowed to participate in such activities.
Enaje said the requirement was imposed as a preventive and regulatory measure "to protect the electoral process from subversion through disguised vote buying operations."
Training activities conducted without "proper notice and documentation" shall be placed under immediate suspicion, the Comelec official further warned.
"If manifestations of illegality are present...this Office shall issue a directive to immediately halt the activity," Enaje added, while candidates and political parties involved may also find themselves liable for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
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