Comelec battles vote-buying

MANILA - The Comelec is moving to quell the start of early forms of vote-buying.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes on Monday ordered the monitoring of vote-buying incidents after Commissioner Grace Padaca reported some suspected cases.

Padaca told Brillantes and regional directors in a meeting that this early, rice and groceries are being delivered to voters in some areas, while in other cases, barangay health workers and watchmen have also been given something.

Padaca said this occurs about 2-3 weeks before election day instead of just the day before, which is why she asked for the information to be cascaded to regional directors.

She said her information is based on feedback from her native Isabela province, as well as on Facebook.

Padaca said another method is giving fare money to voters from the Visayas who are based elsewhere.

Padaca said the fare money may be used by the voters to return home and vote.

Brillantes says there are also instances when insurance is being handed out.
 
He earlier said they are considering putting a cap on the value of tokens that may be given out by candidates.