The DOJ will assist the task force against vote buying ahead of the 2022 elections.
DOJ — The Department of Justice will create a team that will assist the inter-agency task force in investigating reports of vote buying ahead of the 2022 elections.
On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters that he would create a team composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Prosecution Service, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and the DOJ Action Center.
“Considering the importance of the forthcoming elections to the survival and recovery of the nation, I will direct the DOJ contingent to give the highest priority to this campaign in the next 40 days,” Guevarra said.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner George Garcia earlier said that the “Task Force Kontra Bigay” would be composed of several agencies — including the NBI, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
READ ALSO: Malacañang Warns Public vs Vote Buying, Vote Selling
Meanwhile, Malacañang has discouraged the public from selling and buying votes since those are election offenses.
Acting deputy presidential spokesperson Kristian Ablan said during the Presidential press briefing last March 25 that it’s illegal to buy votes or to accept payment for votes as vote selling and vote buying are prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code.
“The Palace reminds the Filipino people that vote-buying and vote-selling are prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code so bawal po tumanggap at bawal din po bumili ng boto,” Ablan said last March 25. “Anyone found guilty of these prohibited acts under the Omnibus Election Code face penalties of imprisonment and fine.”
Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person found guilty of any election offense shall be punished with imprisonment of 1-6 years. He or she is prohibited from entering the public office and is also denied the right to vote.
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