Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is strengthening its campaign against vote buying in the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) amid the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the case of former General Luna, Quezon mayor Matt Erwin Florido.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed gratitude for the recent ruling of the High Court siding with them and their campaign against vote buying. “This means that the commission is going in the right direction,” Garcia stated during an interview at the Comelec head office in Intramuros, Manila.

With the SC’s support, the poll body chief vowed to strengthen the fight against vote buying. “Come the Barangay and SK Elections, we will intensify it. There is now a decision in the Florido vs. Comelec case. So that is a huge advantage for us. This gives us more ammunition to use in future electoral exercises, especially when it comes to dealing with vote-buying,” he added.

Garcia also called for public support in reporting vote buying activities to the commission. “Just give us a guide, just point us in the right direction, we’ll find the evidence, we’ll find the person who can testify, and we’ll take care of it,” he said.

On Tuesday, the High Tribunal upheld the poll body’s decision to disqualify Florido from running as representative of the third legislative district of Quezon province during the May 12, 2025 polls due to vote buying. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a group of residents of Buenavista town, claiming that the camp of the respondent supposedly distributed PHP1,000 bills, free food, shirts, and transportation before the polls.