Comelec's Ferolino to Head Task Force Against Vote Buying

Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio will head the inter-agency task force spearheaded by the poll body to look into alleged incidents of vote buying in the May 9 elections, a poll official said Wednesday.

The Commission en banc designated Ferolino-Ampoloquio as the chairperson of the Task Force Kontra Bigay, Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said.

"Si Commissioner Ferolino ang magpapatawag kaagad ng meeting ng task force, magda-draft ng necessary additional guidelines, at the same time magpapatupad nitong mandato ng Commission on Election to either motu proprio or to accept complaints patungkol sa vote buying," he told reporters in an ambush interview.

Garcia cited Ferolino-Ampoloquio's previous experience as a Comelec field official and strong character as assets in leading the anti-vote buying task force.

"Yung kanyang karanasan at yung kanyang tapang, kapag pinagsama-sama mo yan ay napakagandang ingredient para sa pagiging chairman ng Task Force Kontra Bigay," he added.

Ferolino-Ampoloquio, an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte, was earlier accused by retired Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of deliberately delaying the resolution of disqualification cases against presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos.

Ferolino-Ampoloquio, the designated ponente of the cases, denied Guanzon's accusations, saying that she was taking her time to review the case records. She eventually came out with a decision dismissing the cases for “lack of merit.”

Among the alleged vote buying incidents which the Comelec was earlier asked about was the reported distribution of cash gifts after a Marcos campaign rally in Nueva Ecija, which the poll body said needed a formal complaint before they would act on it.

ALSO READ:

Is It Okay to Accept Money From Politicians? Check Your Privilege First

Vote Buying? Pacquiao to Continue Giving Cash Aid, Camp Says

Beware of Vote-Buyers Who Bait the Poor with Ayuda: Archbishop Villegas