Residents accuse Salimbangon, 12 Daanbantayan bets of vote-buying

Local

A GROUP of residents has filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against several candidates in Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu, alleging that they used government assistance programs for political gain ahead of the elections.

In their complaint, Arl Dewey Maluya, Mary Ann Olaver, and Ruth Surgaol accused congressional candidate Janice Salimbangon and 12 others of engaging in vote-buying through the distribution of government aid.

They highlighted that the respondents politicized the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) programs.

The complainants claimed that the respondents attended the distribution of Tupad benefits on January 31, 2025, at the Poblacion Covered Court in Daanbantayan and the AICS assistance events on February 7 and 10 at Cebu Technological University-Daanbantayan Campus.

They alleged that during these activities, the candidates encouraged beneficiaries to vote for them, effectively turning the aid programs into campaign tools.

The complaint further stated that some beneficiaries were required to submit forms at the residence of one of the respondents, while another distributed umbrellas bearing the House of Representatives logo and calendars featuring her image.

The complainants also noted the absence of Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) representatives at the Tupad distribution, which they argued violated the neutrality expected in such government initiatives.

According to the complainants, these actions contradict Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia’s directive that politicians should adopt a hands-off approach in the distribution of government aid.

The complaint cited Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits vote-buying and the use of public

funds to influence voter preference.

The complainants submitted photos, videos, and sworn affidavits as evidence to support their allegations and requested Comelec to disqualify the respondents from the upcoming elections.

The respondents, who include legal, medical, and local government figures, have yet to issue a statement regarding the complaint.

The Comelec has not yet announced whether it will conduct a formal investigation into the matter.(MyTVCebu)