With elections just a week away, reports of vote buying and misuse of government resources are piling up in Region 1.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has received at six formal complaints, as of this writing, sparking a warning to candidates not to take these reports lightly.

COMELEC Region 1 Acting Director Atty. Reddy Balarbar said action has started.

“’Yung iba kasi nagpadala sila sa e-mail address ng committee on kontra-bigay and ‘yun naman ay na-refer sa atin ng Manila Office natin, ‘yung iba naman direkta sa atin, nagpadala sila ng email-message pero ‘yang mga ‘yan ay ni-require natin na mag-submit sila ng complaint affidavit, sworn statement and of course ebidensya,” he said.

COMELEC has sent letters to two complainants to submit formal affidavits and evidence. One candidate is already set to receive a show cause order, while three others will get notices to explain.

In Mangaldan, Pangasinan, the local police said there have been no confirmed cases of vote buying yet.

“Mino-monitor namin ang area. So far, wala naman kaming na mo-monitor na vote buying,” PLTCO. Perlito Tuayon, chief of the Mangaldan Police Station, said.

Authorities are encouraging citizens to use their smartphones to document illegal activities.

“Huwag nila isawalang bahala ito, kasi this time around doon sa mga binalangkas na polisiya is seryoso ang Commission on Elections,” Balarbar said.

Comelec is working with the PNP, LENTE, PPCRV, and NAMFREL to monitor the region closely as election day nears.