SAN JOSE, Antique – The Provincial Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Antique emphasized its commitment to running after offenders of vote-buying and selling and ensuring the sanctity of the local elections.
Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Salud Milagros T. Villanueva said Comelec Resolution No. 10946 created the CKB and established rules and regulations for the disqualification of candidates for vote-buying and selling under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code.
She added that any candidate found by Comelec to have given, offered, or promised money or anything of value, including money through digital or online transactions, to influence anyone to vote for or against any candidate shall be disqualified.
Villanueva stressed that it is an election offense that holds liable the giver, offerer, and promisor, including the solicitor, acceptor and recipient, with a penalty of imprisonment of at least one year but not more than six years, apart from other penalties under existing laws.
Meanwhile, a person found guilty but voluntarily gives information and testifies in an official investigation shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment and may be admitted to the government’s witness protection program.
The Committee, alongside its accredited citizens’ arms Legal Network for Truthful Elections, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, also administers the Kontra Bigay Complaint Center (KBCC), which receives reports of vote-buying and selling.
KBCC, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 28 and for 24 hours from Oct. 29-31, may be reached through its official social media accounts, email address at committee.kontrabigay@gmail.com, and hotline numbers (02)8559-9947 or (02)8567-4567.
Further, complaints may be filed with Comelec’s Law Department, the offices of the Election Officer, the Provincial Elections Supervisor, the Regional Election Director, or the offices of the State, Provincial, or City Prosecutors where the alleged election offense of vote-buying and selling happened. (PIA Antique with reports from Comelec)/PN