17 vote-buying, vote-selling cases under preliminary investigation — Comelec spox

The Commission on Elections is currently conducting preliminary investigations on 17 cases of vote-buying and vote-selling during the 2022 national and local elections, acting Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said Friday.

So far, Laudiangco said there are 113 vote-buying and vote-selling concerns that were received by the poll body. All of these complaints were acted upon by Comelec's Task Force Kontra Bigay.

Of these concerns, only 17 cases have verified complaint-affidavit for vote buying and selling.

The poll body has yet to disclose if there are high-profile candidates among the 17 cases that are currently docketed at the Comelec Law Department.

But the office of Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, chairperson of the Task Force Kontra Bigay, said they cannot disclose further information on the cases that are for docketing until these are fully processed.

In a Viber message to reporters, Laudiangco said complaints can still be filed against persons who were allegedly involved in vote-buying or vote-selling as the prescription period for election offenses is within five years.

"[W]e have to remember that the prescription period for election offenses is five years from [the] date of commission. Kaya puwede pa po mag-file pa," he said.

Some international election observers and local election watchdogs have flagged several reports of vote-buying during the 2022 national and local elections.

Prior to the May 9 polls, election watchdog Kontra Daya dared the Comelec to go after the "big fish" or politicians involved in vote-buying.

Vote-buying and vote-selling are considered as an election offense under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. — RSJ, GMA News