PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Despite a flood of reports circulating on social media alleging rampant vote buying and vote selling in Palawan, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to receive any formal complaints — a silence that officials say is both troubling and telling.
Election Supervisor, lawyer Percival Mendoza clarified that while the COMELEC has received numerous election-related reports, none qualify as official complaints.
“These are just unverified tips and messages — no one has come forward in person, with evidence, to file a case,” Mendoza said in Filipino during a press conference on May 7.
He expressed concern that while the public appears aware of the issue, fear, complicity, or intimidation may be preventing people from formally reporting violations.
“No one wants to testify. Either they’ve benefited from the scheme, or they’re afraid of being dragged into the case,” the poll official said.
Comelec has also struggled to verify anonymous reports sent via text or courier, many of which came from non-registered voters or unverifiable sources. One complaint filed against a congressional candidate was submitted to the COMELEC main office in Manila — not locally — and thus isn’t considered a formal complaint in Palawan.
Mendoza stressed that vote buying is difficult to prosecute without catching someone in the act.
“There’s no such thing as attempted vote buying,” he said. “We need to see it happening.”
He called on citizens to actively document and report violations as they happen, assuring that witnesses can be protected and even absolved if they come forward.
“This silence isn’t normal. It points to a system designed to keep people quiet,” he warned.
