MANILA, Philippines — Heightened checkpoints in various areas in Western Visayas were expected effective Saturday with the implementation of the three-day “money ban.”
“For the first time, the commission will implement the so-called money ban. It is already prohibited to be in possession of money more than P500,000 together with campaign materials. That would already be considered for purposes of vote buying,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional election director lawyer Dennis Ausan said in an interview Friday afternoon.
Exempted from the ban are those whose nature of job pertains to the possession of huge amounts of money, such as a cashier or treasurer. However, they have to show proof of their job.
“Expect that in the next days, there will be more checkpoints, and that’s one way of implementing this money ban,” he said.
Ausan said personnel of the Philippine National Police have their manual and protocols to comply with the conduct of checkpoints.
He said in the past, there were even those caught in checkpoints with boxes of envelopes containing money and ready for distribution, but because there was no money ban during that time, they were released.
“We remind our candidates, political parties, including their leaders and supporters, that vote buying is an election offense and not just days before Election Day. But in a money ban, a large amount would already be illegal. The fact alone that you have P500,000 coupled with other campaign materials, that’s already something and a case can already be initiated against you,” Ausan said.
He also reminded the public that the two-day liquor ban will start on Sunday.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis said they have already informed personnel conducting checkpoints to be vigilant in checking vehicles, although they are limited to plain view.
“However, since our personnel are alert and vigilant, they would see any suspicious actions of passengers,” he said in an interview on Saturday.
Since the start of the election period on Jan. 12, Solis said they have conducted about 33,500 Comelec checkpoints across the region.
Some are done solely by the PNP, while others are jointly conducted with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“We are directed to have at least one Comelec checkpoint a day. But there are tendencies that we will increase the number of Comelec checkpoints. The efforts are well coordinated by our chiefs of police with election officers,” he said.
In other developments:
* The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Saturday that it has mobilized its Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) along major highways and expressways in anticipation of heavy travel as voters head to their home provinces for the upcoming elections on Monday. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa inspected health posts along expressways today and reminded the public to prioritize safety. “This election season, let’s stay calm and be careful on the roads. Make sure both you and your vehicle are in good condition before traveling. In case of medical emergencies, DOH teams are stationed at health posts along expressways. The public may also call Emergency 911 or the DOH Hotline 1555, then press 2,” he said.
* Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed his thanks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for their action to increase the election allowance of teachers and other poll personnel. It comes as the Department of Budget and Management approved a P2,000 across the board increase in the allowances. For election board chairpersons, the honoraria will be raised to P12,000 from P10,000, while poll clerks and third members will receive P11,000 from P9,000, and support staff will receive P8,000 from P6,000.
* The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines has urged voters to elect leaders who will preserve and protect democracy and reject those who weaken it. In a statement, the CEAP said that as an exercise in democracy, elections is considered as one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. “We shall elect leaders who will preserve and protect democracy, and reject those who weaken it through patronage (e.g. ayuda), political dynasty, incompetence, corruption, and authoritarianism,” the CEAP said.
* The consumer advocacy group ILAW Pilipinas issued a strong call to all aspiring leaders: confront the deepening energy crisis or risk continued disruption to the daily lives and economic wellbeing of millions of Filipinos. “For months now, rotating brownouts and unplanned outages have disrupted not only homes but also hospitals, classrooms, and commercial hubs,” ILAW Pilipinas said in a statement issued just days before the 2025 midterm election. “The energy insecurity plaguing our nation is more than a technical failure; it is a governance crisis.” ILAW urged all candidates and political parties to treat energy as a central platform issue, not as an afterthought.