[Ask Your Comelec] How to crack down on vote buying

Incumbent officials, beware: the Comelec is particularly keen on cases of ASR or abuse of state resources

MANILA, Philippines – For the 2025 polls, the Commission on Elections has branded its anti-vote buying drive as “Kontra-Bigay 2.0.”

2.0 — that means the campaign is an improved version. So, what is it doing better in 2025? 

For one, it widens its definition of what can be considered as influencing the voter’s behavior through favors. The acts being monitored for which political players and voters can be held liable are no longer limited to direct vote buying and vote selling. 

Incumbent officials, beware: the Comelec is particularly keen on cases of ASR or abuse of state resources. In other words, it’s closely watching the distribution of government aid if this is being done as a poor cover for vote buying. 

Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. sits down with Rappler managing editor Miriam Grace Go to also talk about how the Comelec’s Kontra-Bigay 2.0 campaign, which he chairs, is helping witnesses, whistleblowers, and law enforcers address this menace. 

Ask Your Comelec goes live at 6 pm on Friday, May 2. – Rappler.com