Comelec eyes regulating campaign cash donations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants campaign cash donations regulated in light of reports that some candidates are getting financial support from drug lords. "It's high time for [the] Comelec to adopt rules on how to regulate these kinds of campaign finance," Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told reporters in an interview Thursday. But first it asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to come up with the list of candidates who are suspected to be receiving financial backing from people involved in the illegal drug trade. He said it is important to initiate this move because having drug lord-backed politicians would have "serious implications" in how the country is being run. "Dahil kapag nagbigay ka ng tulong, nakakabahala diyan yung bawi (When someone helps you out, it's difficult to know what he will ask for in return) after they are elected, if you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," Sarmiento said. The poll body official, however, admitted that there are no clear-cut laws about campaign finances, which is the same reason why he wishes to issue guidelines. Comelec Resolution 8758 only limits the amount spent by a candidate on each voter and not the amount of funds that a candidate has. He noted that transactions between candidates and drug lords may be considered vote buying under Article 12, Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. The provision reads: "Any person who gives, offers or promises money or anything of value, gives or promises any office or employment, franchise or grant, public or private, or makes or offers to make an expenditure, directly or indirectly, or cause an expenditure to be made to any person, association, corporation, entity, or community in order to induce anyone or the public in general to vote for or against any candidate or withhold his vote in the election, or to vote for or against any aspirant for the nomination or choice of a candidate in a convention or similar selection process of a political party." Violation of this provision may constitute an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV