Complainant Alex Aliman Palao, candidate for Vice Mayor of Carmen, along with several witnesses, presented visual and video evidences of vote buying operations in several barangays of Carmen town well beyond the period where COMELEC allowed the distribution of "Ayuda."
The specific provisions of Sec. 33 of COMELEC Res. 11104 state:
"Sec. 33. Noitwithstanding any provisions to the contrart, the giving and distribution of "Ayuda," TUPAD, AKAP, AICS and 4Ps, shall be totally prohibited within a period of ten (10) days before elections and on election day, except medical and burial assistance which are normally given to qualified individuals."
"Ayuda, TUPAD, AKAP, AICS, and 4Ps that are distributed by candidates who are incumbent elected officials or their spouses or members of their families within the second civil degree of affinity or consanguinity, or their known supporters or employees, during the period of total prohibition shall be presumed vote-buying and vote sell or ASR, as the case may be."
In his sworn affidavit filed before the COMELEC yesterday, Vice Mayoralty Candidate Alex Palao said "the giving of the Ayuda in the present case was made on 03 May 2025 to 05 May 2025. All these dates are within the prohibitive period. "
If proven, these charges could lead to the disqualification of the candidates following the statement made by COMELEC Chairman George Garcia.
"Candidates facing disqualification complaints are less likely to be declared winners in the May 12 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday."
“We are studying the possibility of suspending the proclamation of candidates with pending disqualification cases if they win the elections, especially if there is strong evidence against them,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.
As a known supporter of Vice Mayoralty Candidate Alex Palao, I commend him for his courage to expose these gross and blatant violations of the law.
I deeply admire this brave act of standing up to a family which had controlled politics in Carmen for decades.
May his act serve as an inspiration for other citizens to fight for a clean and honest elections.