Winning bets with poll offenses not yet off the hook — Brillantes

Winning candidates in the May 13 elections with pending election offenses cannot rest easy yet, as their proclamation will have no effect on the progress of their case, poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday.

"Lahat ng illegal postering, tuloy-tuloy lang ang aming election offense sa law department. It should not affect the proclamation," Brillantes said.

He cited the case of the party-list Buhay Hayaang Yumabon, which was proclaimed Friday morning after garnering the most number of votes despite its existing case involving illegal posters.

Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) received three notices on February 19 and 20 for their illegal campaign posters in three different locations.

Brillantes said a winning candidate could be removed from office once he is “convicted” by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"Pwede silang matanggal kung ma-convict sila later," he said. "Part of the accessory penalty is cancellation. Whether you win or lose, an election offense is committed."

Another proclaimed party-list group, Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, has also been accused of having illegal campaign materials.

Other party-lists who received notices for illegal poster violations are LPG Marketers' Association, Kabataan, 1 BRO–Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Bagong Henerasyon, Piston, Sanlakas, Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta, 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group Inc., and Katribu Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Party.

Brillantes stressed the same rule also applies to senatorial candidates.

Among the senatorial candidates who were accused of illegal campaigning were former Senator Jamby Madrigal, who tried to raffle off an iPad on Facebook, and former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, who supposedly gave money in their party's meeting. Both were unsuccessful in the May 13 polls.

Vote-buying and illegal poster violation are considered election offenses penalized with imprisonment and a disqualification from public office, according to the Omnibus Election Code.  — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News