The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has directed former chairperson Sheriff Abas to clarify allegations of vote-buying tied to the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections.
Abas, who is currently a candidate for a district representative seat in Cotabato City, received the show cause order (SCO) from Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay.
The order stems from a Facebook post by Zaira May Baraguir, which claimed that advance vote-buying was occurring in District 2 as elections approached.
As the election draws nearer and nearer, advance vote-buying is already taking place here in District 2.
Zaira May Baraguir
Accompanying the post was an image displaying a sample ballot promoting Abas alongside cash, which raised red flags for the Comelec.
The SCO outlined that this situation potentially violates Section 261 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, known as the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits vote-buying and selling.
Comelec has mandated that Abas submit a written explanation within 24 hours of receiving the order, detailing why a complaint or disqualification petition should not be filed against him.
Failure to respond will be treated as a waiver of his right to a hearing, allowing Comelec to proceed with further actions.
Having served as Comelec chair from 2017 to 2022, Abas was notably the first individual from Mindanao to lead the commission.
Implications for Upcoming Elections
As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its elections, integrity concerns are paramount. Past electoral processes in the region have faced scrutiny over similar accusations, making the current situation critical.