CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Distributing cash assistance within 10 days before the elections is considered a poll offense, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) IV-A reminded the public ahead of the 2025 National and Local Elections.
Citing the poll body’s guidelines, Assistant Regional Election Director Margaret Joyce Reyes-Cortez emphasized that providing or distributing any form of assistance, commonly known as ayuda, during this period is considered vote buying and selling.
Cortez said that these forms vote buying include assistance programs such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).
“The Commission on Elections has released a new resolution prohibiting the distribution of ayuda, including 4Ps and TUPAD. If any such activities occur during this period, they will be presumed as vote buying. There are no exemptions,” Cortez stressed during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Feb. 28.
Highlighting the Commission’s efforts to uphold fair elections, Cortez said they have formed Kontra Bigay committees at various levels to handle cases of vote buying and selling, including the misuse of state resources during the election period.
The committee, composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and the prosecutor’s office, is responsible for safeguarding affidavits and complaints until they are resolved at the end of the election period.
“At the regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels, we have the Kontra Bigay committee actively monitoring the abuse of state resources, as well as vote buying and selling,” Cortez told the media.
She noted that PAO would assist complainants in processing their affidavits and filing complaints. She also urged the public to report any instances of vote buying they witness to the proper authorities.
Cortez also appealed for public cooperation to ensure a smooth and orderly election, emphasizing that citizen participation is key to maintaining a fair and organized electoral process.
Under Resolution No. 11104, other activities that may be classified as vote buying and selling include distributing groceries containing sample ballots or campaign materials, providing medical supplies, organizing medical missions, feeding programs, legal aid services, or service caravans bearing a candidate’s name or campaign materials, and offering discount cards or other goods during house-to-house election campaigning. (PB, MM/PIA4A)
