Comelec Chairman George Garcia presides over the Raffle of Party-List Groups and Organizations or Coalitions' Order in the Official Ballot for the 2025 National and Local Elections  held at the Chairman's Hall, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila  on October 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded all candidates to refrain from giving money or any valuable items as rewards to anyone in an event or competition this campaign period for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE). 

Comelec chairman George Garcia made this statement in an ambush interview at the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) event in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Wednesday, April 2. 

Comelec says measures in place vs vote buying

Garcia explained that there is nothing wrong if a candidate will serve as a judge in a beauty pageant or other similar competitions, but giving monetary rewards to participants is another issue. 

“Puwede po silang mag-judge, puwede po silang magputong ng korona, puwede silang maglagay ng sash or whatever… puwede po silang mag-participate sa mismong pageant or anumang patimpalak pero bawal po silang magbigay ng anumang premyo o award o reward,” Garcia told the media. 

“Siguro po kung plaque wala naman po tayong problema po dun pero yung cash reward, that will be vote buying. Yung pagpapakain eh wala pong pinakaiba sa isang kampanya - kampanyahan po yun eh…so pag pinakain mo na yung lahat nang nandoon na nanonood ng pageant halimbawa, yun po ay vote buying na. Sana iwasan po natin yan,” Garcia added. 

Comelec condemns alleged ‘vote buying’ in Negros Region but can’t file cases yet

According to Garcia, even voters who will sell their votes to a candidate could be held liable. 

“Kasi nga yung issue ng vote buying hindi lang ito liability ng mismong namimili ng boto kung hindi mismong yung nagbebenta ng boto or yung nanghihingi so iwasan natin kasi nga madadamay yung mismong grupo or organisasyon,” Garcia explained.