Ex-Comelec Chair Abas Ordered to Explain Vote Buying Allegations

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections has ordered its former chairman Sheriff Abas to explain alleged vote buying after photos circulated showing his sample ballots clipped with cash, a day before the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. Abas, who is running under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party for the First Parliamentary District of Cotabato City, was given 24 hours to submit a written explanation. The circulating posts showed what appeared to be P3,000 in cash attached to sample ballots bearing Abas’ name. In its show-cause order, the Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay said the posts could constitute presumed vote buying under Section 261(a) of the Omnibus Election Code, as implemented by Comelec Resolution No. 11104. “It is the position of this Committee that the foregoing constitutes possible violation of presumed vote buying in violation of Section 261 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), as implemented by Section 26 of COMELEC Resolution 11104,” the order read. Under Section 26, possession or delivery of money or other items of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials may be presumed to constitute vote buying or vote selling. The show-cause order does not by itself constitute a finding that Abas committed an election offense. Abas denied the allegation in a Facebook post and called the circulating claims fake news and a smear campaign. “Walang lugar ang fake news at paninira sa halalan. Kung may alegasyon, idaan sa tamang proseso at sa COMELEC, hindi sa social media,” Abas said. (“Fake news and smear campaigns have no place in elections. If there are allegations, they should go through the proper process and be brought to Comelec, not social media.”) “Suriin ang source. I-verify ang impormasyon. Huwag magpakalat ng hindi kumpirmadong balita. Sa halalan, katotohanan at respeto ang pairalin,” he added. (“Check the source. Verify the information. Do not spread unconfirmed information. In elections, truth and respect should prevail.”) The show-cause order comes on the eve of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s first parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14. More than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to elect members of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament, replacing the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority. Source: Philstar Nation