Comelec warns aspirants vs. extortion ahead of 2025 elections

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Geroge Garcia on Sunday warned aspirants in the 2025 national and local polls to be vigilant against syndicates which are extorting money in exchange for “easy wins” in the upcoming elections.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Garcia said they have monitored certain areas in Luzon and Mindanao where some individuals, claiming to know someone from the Comelec’s Information Technology Department, are asking up to P100 million for the scheme.

“Sa mga kakandidato, whether incumbent o hindi, may kumakalat po ngayon na mga sindikato na umiikot na kaya daw nila kayong panalunin in a matter of minutes. Kahit daw kayo’y pumikit na at hindi na mangampanya at hindi na mag-ikot ikot ay panalo na,” Garcia said.

(To the candidates, whether incumbent or not, there are syndicates circulating now saying they can make you win in the elections in a matter of minutes. Even if you keep your eyes closed and don’t campaign anymore, they say you will win.)

“Ang strategy ng mga ‘yan ay magpapa-advance kasi ‘yung kabila, ‘yung kalaban ninyo ay gusto na magbayad ng buo. ‘Eh siyempre mas pabor kami sa inyo, eh baka puwede mag-advance ka na dahil kayo ang napipisil namin na dapat na mayor dito.’ Sabihin na nag-advance ka ng P10 milyon tapos umaasa ka na wala na, sitting pretty, eh natalo ka ngayon. Oh, papaano mo hahanapin ang mga tao na ‘yun?” he added.

(Their strategy is to ask for advance payment because they will tell you that your opponent already wants to pay in full. They will say that they favor you more for the position. But let’s say you paid in advance and you became complacent, and then you lost, then how are you supposed to find those people?)

Garcia said that they will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding the issue.

He also vowed that the Comelec will help in the legal proceedings against these syndicates, once their members are arrested.

“Sana kapag ‘yan lumapit sa inyo, arestuhin niyo agad at tutulong kaming i-prosecute ang mga taong ‘yan,” he added.

(I hope that when you encounter them, you get them arrested immediately and we will help prosecute those people.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News