The Commission on Election (Comelec) will file an election offense complaint against the politician who will be found guilty of ordering the alleged vote buying in Navotas City, its chairman George Garcia said on Thursday, Oct. 26.
In an interview with reporters, Garcia said the poll body cannot just file a case against the woman who was caught in the act of distributing money placed in a white envelope inside a warehouse.
"Hindi pu-pwedeng kakasauhan lang namin yung mismong nasa lamesa na namimigay lang ng envelope. Sino ang nasa likod no'n? Sympre may pinaggalingan yung pera," he said.
The Comelec chief said anyone who is distributing cash money to people has motives.
"Hindi ka naman mamimigay, kundi to promote the candidacy of someone or either yung somebody na 'yun ay kandidato. That's the reason why kinakailagan na lumalim kami doon," he said.
According to Garcia, any official who was found guilty of ordering the cash distribution would face suspension of proclamation and election offense complaint.
"Wala akong kino-confirm na kung sino mang personalidad pero nakakalungkot kung may involve na officials na hindi naman kandidato," he said.
"Whether you are an elective or appointed official, kapag ang isyu na ay ang pamimili, double ang galit ng Commission on Elections diyan. Parang yung galit namin sa may karahasan against sa isang kandidato na tumatakbo, sa incumbent na tumatakbo," Garcia added.
The Comelec chief said they don't believe the woman's testimony that she was merely giving the cash for election-related training.
"Wala naman trainor, walang watcher's kit. Wala naman kahit anong trainers na allegedly na mga watchers iyan," she said.
Garcia said "traditional vote-buying" could be more easily caught than online transactions.
Aside from the woman, he said the poll body will also file election offenses against those individuals who received the money in the said warehouse.
