PNP to act on reports of alleged vote-buying —police exec

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Dionardo Carlos has instructed his personnel to act on reports of alleged vote-buying in their areas, an official of the police organization said Monday.

At a press conference, PNP’s Director for Operations Police Major General Valeriano de Leon said some cops, commanders, and even election candidates reported supposed incidents of vote-buying.

“We have been receiving several reports from our subordinates, commanders, as well as the candidates themselves and intelligence communities are conducting validation on this,” De Leon said.

“In fact, the Chief PNP has given instruction to all commanders down to the police stations to conduct appropriate police actions in coordination with the Commission on Elections,” he added.

De Leon said the PNP has yet to consolidate all these reports when asked about the total number of reports that the police have received so far.

The PNP is among the member agencies of the task force against vote-buying or the Task Force Kontra Bigay organized by the Commission on Elections.

TF Konta Bigay is expected to act motu proprio, as well as on formal complaints involving vote-buying.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person found guilty of election offense shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years.

Also, those found guilty will be denied the right to vote and prohibited from holding public office, and any political party found guilty of vote-buying will be fined. —KG, GMA News