The Commission on Elections has formed a committee with other government agencies to battle vote-buying and vote-selling ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on 30 October.

In an interview, Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the different government agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Philippine Information Agency have formed a "standing, permanent committee" called Committee on Kontra-Bigay to battle what he called a "modern cancer of society".

"Papunta sa 2023 Barangay and SK Elections, ginawa na po ng Comelec na isang standing, permanent committee. Kung dati po task force lang tayo, ngayon po ay pormal na komite na. Pagkatapos po ng ating halalan, tuluy-tuloy po, prosecution of cases, hanggang sa mapa-convict natin sila at tutuloy hanggang 2025 national and local elections. Same format pa rin po tayo, magkakasama pa rin iyong mga dating ahensiya, pero pinalakas po at pinalawig po iyong kapangyarihan nila," said Laudiangco.

When asked what actions the committee will employ against the long-standing culture of vote-buying and vote-selling, the Comelec mouthpiece said filing cases in court is the solution to counter the offense.

"We have to file cases in court; our evidence should stand up to scrutiny. But this time po, both in the Task Force Anti-Epal and the Committee on Kontra-Bigay, hindi lang po 'yung criminal offense ang pagtutuunan namin kung hindi po 'yung petition for disqualification" he said.

The Comelec said it is expecting 4,000 delivered show cause orders against suspects in vote-buying and vote-selling cases.