Goons take backseat to gold as vote-buying cases go up in Eleksyon 2019 —PNP

Cases of election-related violence before Election Day have dropped dramatically in during the election campaign in 2019 but, according to the Philippine National Police, incidents of vote-buying are up.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras", the PNP has so far recorded 32 cases of pre-election violence in 2019 compared to 106 in 2016.

There were 94 such cases in 2013 and 138 in 2010.

PNP spokesman Police Colonel Bernard Banac said politicians could be focusing this year on vote-buying instead of on inflicting harm on the other side.

"Ito ay maaring dahilan suddenly andami ngayong report ng vote-buying," Banac said.

"Ibig sabihin, du'n nagfo-focus ngayon. Hindi na sa tunggalian na gumagamit ng dahas," he added.

15 complaints

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is already looking into 15 complaints of vote-buying.

PACC commissoner Greco Belgica said ten cases had already been brought before the law department of the Commission on Elections.

"Madali hong magbintang pero 'yung actual evidence, kailangan ho may diligence diyan," Belgica said.

The National Movement for Free Elections said allocations for vote-buying had gone wholesale with allocations of P200,000 to P500,000 for certain areas.

NAMFREL secretary-general Eric Jude Alvia said vote buyers are doing so in bulk and in connivance with some multi-level marketing networks.

Only a few individuals will be given the money, which will then be distributed to their "downlines".

"Siyempre, pag mahuli ka, trabaho ko yan. In the course of doing business. Buying and selling of this product," Alvia said.

"So di ba? May plausible denial tapos existing, legit 'negosyo," he added. —NB, GMA News