Comelec orders ex-chair Abas to explain BPE vote-buying allegations

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered its former chairperson, Sheriff Abas, now a district representative candidate for Cotabato City, to explain allegations of vote-buying related to the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections (BPE).

The Comelec’s Committee on Kontra Bigay issued a show cause order (SCO) against Abas, citing a Facebook post by a certain Zaira May Baraguir that said: “Habang palapit nang palapit ang election, dito na nagaganap ang advance vote-buying sa District 2.”

(As the election draws nearer and nearer, advance vote-buying is already taking place here in District 2.)

The post was accompanied by a photo showing a sample ballot with “VOTE #3 SA BALOTA ATTY. SHERIFF ABAS” along with three P1,000 bills.

“It is the position of this Committee that the foregoing constitutes a possible violation of presumed vote buying in violation of Section 261 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), as implemented by Section 26 of COMELEC Resolution 11104,” the show-cause order read.

Section 261 of the OEC prohibits vote-buying and vote-selling, which constitute election offenses.

The Comelec panel directed Abas to submit a written explanation within 24 hours of receiving the SCO “to explain why a complaint for election offense and/or petition for disqualification should not be filed against you.”

The panel also warned that noncompliance with the SCO “shall be considered as a waiver of your right to be heard and appropriate case/s may be filed against you.”

Abas served as Comelec chairperson from 2017 to 2022. He was the first Comelec chief from Mindanao. /mcm