The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the implementation of various financial assistance programs amounting to P273 million, which a group claimed Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas may use for vote buying.

In an en banc decision dated 21 April, the Comelec revoked the exemption previously granted by its Law Department to the Batangas provincial government, led by Mandanas, which allowed the distribution of aid during the election period.

The poll body also directed its Law Department to investigate the allegations raised by the group Progressive Allied Batangueños (PAB) in their complaint and to immediately submit the findings to the en banc.

Comelec’s action stemmed from PAB’s opposition to the Law Department’s recommendation to approve Mandanas’ request to exempt several aid-related projects from the election spending ban.

The suspended projects include Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Cash for Work (P16.71 million), Emergency Assistance Service under the 20 percent Development Fund (P23.1 million), Job Fair (P150,000), Employment Assistance Program (P800,000), assistance for youth sports activities (P32.46 million), Cash for Work for victims of Typhoon Kristine and Taal Volcano evacuees (P5 million), Hot Meals for disaster victims (P5 million), and Scholarship and Educational Assistance (P190 million).

PAB argued that the rollout of these programs during the campaign period would give Mandanas an undue advantage over his opponents in the race for vice governor of the province.

The group also pointed out that the lack of clear guidelines in distributing the aid could allow Mandanas to influence the beneficiaries into voting for him.

In addition, PAB questioned the timing of the aid distribution, which was scheduled during the campaign period.

The group also criticized Mandanas for his alleged failure to bring significant progress to Batangas during his nine years as governor.