Police Regional Office (PRO) 4B (Mimaropa) chief Brig. Gen. Roger Quesada on Friday vowed to amplify the enforcement of the “Kontra Bigay 2.0” campaign to curb electoral bribery ahead of the May 12 elections.
“I have directed all police units in Mimaropa to strengthen intelligence monitoring, launch robust public awareness campaigns, and work closely with Comelec (Commission on Elections) to investigate and address any signs of electoral fraud,” Quesada said in a statement.
The region is composed of the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil earlier directed all police personnel not only to enforce but also internalize the commitment to the “Kontra Bigay” campaign as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s vision for clean, honest, and fair elections.
Kontra Bigay 2.0, which builds on the initial campaign launched in October 2023 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, shifts focus from public appeals to decisive and proactive measures against vote-buying and selling.
Under the expanded initiative, law enforcement agencies will intensify intelligence monitoring and target the possession or distribution of money, goods, or campaign materials intended to influence voters.
They are also tasked to go after organized efforts to manipulate the electoral process through financial transactions.
Offenders caught in these illegal activities may face immediate warrantless arrest in coordination with the Comelec.
“We will promptly address any illegal transactions undermining our electoral process, as our commitment to democratic integrity is unwavering,” Quesada said.
Under Article 12 of the Omnibus Election Code, those found guilty of vote-buying or vote-selling could face imprisonment of one to six years.
The Comelec on Feb. 7 launched the Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB), which seeks to strengthen efforts against vote buying and selling by empowering law enforcement agencies, including the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct surveillance, validate reports, and take decisive action against electoral violations.
Quesada urged the public to promptly report any instances of vote-buying or vote-selling through official channels.
“The success of peaceful, credible, and fair elections depends on the collective commitment of every Filipino. We urge all stakeholders to uphold electoral integrity and report any violations,” he said. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
